The Week: Grooming Inquiries, Economic Hope and Brexit

Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss the political week.

BBC News - 17h

U.K. to open new inquiries into past child grooming cases after Musk tweet

Britain's Home Secretary announced there would be a number of new local inquiries into decade-old allegations of child grooming, weeks after Elon Musk accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of ...

CBS News - 1d

Grooming gang members given jail sentences

Ibrar Hussain, Imtiaz Ahmed and Fayaz Ahmed are sentenced at Bradford Crown Court.

BBC News - 10h

Gilts post best week since July after run of poor economic data

Investors increase bets the Bank of England will be more aggressive in cutting rates as FTSE 100 hits record high

Financial Times - 10h

Chris Mason: Grooming gangs review a clear nod to demands for new national inquiry

The BBC's political editor examines the government's announcement on grooming gangs.

BBC News - 1d

Cooper announces urgent grooming gangs review

Plans include local investigations and a national audit of the ethnicity of victims and perpetrators.

BBC News - 1d

Has the government changed its mind on grooming gang inquiries?

Five local inquiries & a national 'rapid audit'

BBC News - 1d

UK to launch local grooming gang inquiries

Ministers will provide £5mn in funding for up to five investigations

Financial Times - 1d

Badenoch criticises Tory handling of Brexit

In her first major speech of 2025, Badenoch acknowledges the Conservatives "made mistakes".

BBC News - 1d

Will the Democrats overcorrect on US economic policy?

Bidenomics’ lasting legacy may depend on Republican success

Financial Times - 1d

Families failed by Covid jabs tell inquiry of pain

They said there was no support after the death and harm suffered by their loved ones.

BBC News - 2d

South Korean President Is Detained in Insurrection Inquiry

Investigators have detained South Korea’s impeached leader, Yoon Suk Yeol. This is the first time a sitting South Korean president has been detained on criminal charges. Choe Sang-Hun, the Seoul ...

The New York Times - 2d

Meeting with grooming victims 'shocking', says Kemi Badenoch

The Tory leader has been calling for a fresh inquiry into grooming gangs.

BBC News - 4d

Rotherham MP Champion backs national grooming inquiry

The Labour MP says "nothing less than a full inquiry... will restore faith in our safeguarding systems".

BBC News - 4d

Minister rejects Burnham's call for grooming inquiry

The Conservatives and Reform UK are both demanding a fresh national investigation into the issue.

BBC News - Jan. 10

Labour’s economic reality check approaches

Rising cost of borrowing piles pressure on UK fiscal rules and government’s promises, but politics make cuts complicated

Financial Times - Jan. 10

Andy Burnham backs ‘limited’ national inquiry into UK grooming scandal

Manchester mayor says fresh probe could bring new evidence to light

Financial Times - Jan. 9

Grooming still happening in Oxford, ex-investigator says

Simon Morton says perpetrators are operating in plain sight and the "guys we couldn't catch are still out there".

BBC News - Jan. 9

MPs reject calls by Tories for national inquiry into UK grooming gangs

Government uses its Commons majority to dismiss Conservatives’ demand backed by Elon Musk

Financial Times - Jan. 8

MPs vote against Tory call for new grooming gangs inquiry

MPs rejected a Tory amendment calling for a grooming gang's inquiry by 253 votes.

BBC News - Jan. 8

Starmer and Badenoch clash over grooming inquiry

The online debate played out IRL

BBC News - Jan. 8

Tory and Reform MPs accused of ‘weaponising trauma’ of grooming victims, as Farage calls for inquiry into Pakistani men – UK politics live

Prime minister told Commons any new inquiry into child abuse would delay progress however spokesperson says he has not ruled one out. Reform UK has also tabled a reasoned amendment to the ...

The Guardian - Jan. 8

UK delays gene editing plans in push for Brexit reset

Brussels warns that current British plans not compatible with agreement to cut border checks

Financial Times - Jan. 8

New grooming gangs inquiry would delay action on child abuse, inquiry chair tells BBC

Victims want change now, Prof Alexis Jay says, and people need to "step up to the mark" and implement her recommendations.

BBC News - Jan. 7

Elon Musk’s Dishonest Demagogy on Grooming Gangs

The billionaire is exploiting old atrocities to undermine his enemies.

The New York Times - Jan. 7

A Gaza ceasefire agreement in next 2 weeks? The US is hopeful

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story A Gaza ceasefire agreement in next 2 weeks? The US is hopeful The ...

The Hill - Jan. 7

What is Starmer's record on prosecuting grooming gangs?

The prime minister has come under attack from Elon Musk over his record as director of public prosecutions.

BBC News - Jan. 6

Electricity co-operation post-Brexit has far more positives than negatives

A simple trading agreement would suit both Europe and the UK

Financial Times - Jan. 6

US hoping for Gaza ceasefire agreement in next 2 weeks: Blinken

The Biden administration says it is still hoping to secure a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in its final two weeks in the White House, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday. ...

The Hill - Jan. 6

Why this week's 'Team Cup' is important for Europe's Ryder Cup hopes

This geographically misplaced match, with the most anodyne of names, has a value that might help nudge Europe to a rare away win over the US next September, writes Iain Carter.

BBC News - Jan. 6