Cooper hits back at ‘misinformation’ over grooming gang inquiries

Home secretary denies Labour is rowing back on pledge after claims it is doing so to avoid offending Muslim voters

Yvette Cooper has said the government is pressing ahead with local grooming gang inquiries, as Labour MPs warned the right was weaponising" claims that the party watered down its promise to hold them in five areas.

The home secretary moved to defuse a row over the politically explosive issue, after the Conservatives and Reform UK claimed the government had dropped its commitment made in January.