Kemi Badenoch hasn't actually met any grooming gang survivors - and doesn't think she needs to

The Tory leader's spokesman said she didn't need to meet with victims, because she's read all about it in the media - and had no current plans to meet with anyone - but denied she was jumping on an Elon Musk-fuelled bandwagon

Tory Kemi Badenoch has never actually met any survivors of grooming gangs, her spokesman has admitted - and she doesn't think she needs to.

Her spokesman told reporters today that she had no current plans to meet with any victims, nor had any asked to meet with her.

Challenged on why she hasn't met victims, the spokesman said she'd read reports in the media, saying: "You don't need to necessarily meet someone to feel incredibly passionately about this."

At Prime Minister's Questions Keir Starmer, who had a private meeting with victims this morning, accused Ms Badenoch of "jumping on a bandwagon" - as she had failed to raise the issue in the Commons during her 8 years as an MP.

The Tories have strapped a wrecking amendment to today's Chidren's Safety bill, which would take it down entirely unless the government agrees to hold another national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Asked what had changed this week to prompt such a nuclear response, Ms Badenoch's spokesman said: "There is strong evidence that this stuff is still going on. There is a feeling among victims that those in power and authority have not been brought to justice. That is something a national inquiry would do."

He said any further inquiry would have to look at the ethnicity of those involved.

He added: "That is what we're looking for, that is what the victims are looking for."

Asked how many victims she's met, the spokesman admitted: "She hasn't."

He denied it was a "bandwagon", adding: "We have listened to the victims. There has been some superb reporting....there are whistleblowers. When you hear these people talking about what has happened and you look at what has been done in response the leader of the opposition came to the conclusion it was absolutely necessary to hold a national inquiry."

Asked why, given she hasn't met with any, she's chosen to side with victims who want an inquiry, rather than ones who don't, he said: "As has been said elsewhere, there are differing perspectives on this, she's taken up the ones who want an inquiry."

The spokesman confirmed no victims had asked Ms Badenoch to meet with her.