Overview
- The Conservative Party published draft terms for a statutory, judge-led inquiry that would focus on non‑familial abuse and examine perpetrators’ religious, ethnic, or national characteristics.
- Kemi Badenoch said the inquiry should have powers to compel evidence, summon witnesses and establish findings of fact, and she pledged scrutiny of councils, police and central government where required.
- Survivors including Fiona Goddard backed the Tory plan after resignations from the official victim liaison panel over disputes about widening the remit of the government process.
- The government inquiry announced in June has no chair or published terms after the final two shortlisted candidates withdrew in October; Labour says it accepted Baroness Casey’s recommendations and remains committed to a full statutory inquiry.
- Shadow home secretary Chris Philp urged ministers to adopt the draft and proposed measures such as stripping British citizenship from dual nationals convicted of grooming, while Badenoch called for UK-wide scope including Scotland.