Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been quizzed by GB News reporter Charlie Peters on whether the Tories will table an amendment over the grooming gangs inquiry, blocking the exclusion of Whitehall and Westminster representatives from the investigation.Responding to Charlie, Badenoch told GB News: "My view is that the inquiry needs to go where the evidence leads. If there is evidence that there are institutions, whether they are national or local, have been complicit in a cover up, then that definitely needs to be looked at. "No one should be exonerated. This is a full national inquiry, so I don't believe that any institution should be out of scope. If there is credible evidence pointing to any institution, then that should be looked at. But we know that quite a lot has come out already. This is why we didn't need to wait six months to agree a national inquiry. "Most of what was in Baroness Casey's report, which I welcome, I felt I'd seen before and I knew. And what we need right now is the moral courage to just do the right thing, rather than continually finding reasons to kick stuff into the long grass. And that's what I really want to see."WATCH ABOVE.
00:00I know that there will be some questions, not specifically for me or Chris, but for survivors and family members.
00:05But if you could please direct those questions to me first, and then I will ask them.
00:10And I'd like to start with Charlie Peters of GB News, who has done quite a lot of work on this topic. Charlie.
00:17Good morning. Yes, as you said, I'm going to spare Lucio, Teresa, Fiona and Marlon on the questions.
00:23I'd rather grill the politicians on this one.
00:25You've put forward those tests, Kemi and Chris, that you're going to hold the government to account on with this inquiry.
00:31But it seems to me in your list, Chris, that you are missing out Whitehall and Westminster.
00:37Will you ensure that they are investigated as well?
00:42We've heard compelling evidence about civil servants covering up abuse.
00:46Will you put forward an amendment or take other action to ensure that people in Westminster, including the CPS, are also dragged before this commission?
00:55So my view is that the inquiry needs to go where the evidence leads.
00:59If there is evidence that there are institutions, whether they are national or local, have been complicit in a cover-up, then that definitely needs to be looked at.
01:08No one should be left on the side and left outside.
01:13This is a full national inquiry.
01:15So I don't believe that any institution should be out of scope.
01:18If there is evidence pointing, credible evidence pointing to any institution, then that should be looked at.
01:24But we know that quite a lot has come out already.
01:28This is why we didn't need to wait six months to agree a national inquiry.
01:32Most of what was in Baroness Casey's report, which I welcome, I felt I'd seen before and I knew.
01:38And what we need right now is the moral courage to just do the right thing rather than continually finding reasons to kick stuff into the long grass.
