After facing criticism for not setting up a national inquiry into grooming gangs, Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he has accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey. The inquiry will cover England and Wales.

The prime minister has declared that there will be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. This decision comes after the government previously dismissed calls for such an inquiry earlier this year.

Baroness Casey, who recommended the need for a national inquiry, had initially thought it was unnecessary. However, after further examination, she changed her mind and concluded that a national inquiry was essential.

The inquiry, which will be set up under the Inquiries Act, will have the power to compel witnesses to provide evidence. While it will take some time to establish, Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of implementing Baroness Casey's recommendation based on the evidence presented in her audit.

In response to the announcement, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had previously initiated a three-month audit into group-based child sexual abuse, led by Baroness Casey. The audit, which was delayed, aimed to gather data and evidence on the nature and scale of the abuse.

The decision to launch a national inquiry has been welcomed by various political figures, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who called it a "welcome U-turn." Farage stressed the importance of conducting the inquiry thoroughly to expose any failings within the British establishment and ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve.