News

Conservatives welcome Starmer’s U-turn on grooming gang inquiry

Published

1 year ago

June 18, 2025

Welsh survivor at heart of call for transparency and justice

TWO prominent Welsh Conservatives have welcomed the announcement of a long-awaited UK-wide public inquiry into the handling of grooming gangs — and are calling on the Welsh Government to cooperate fully and transparently.

Both Samuel Kurtz MS, who represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, and Paul Davies MS, who represents Preseli Pembrokeshire, have issued strong statements in support of the inquiry and urged Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay to meet with a Welsh survivor of grooming and abuse who has become a key voice in the campaign for justice.

The developments follow pressure in the Senedd from Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS, who earlier this week challenged First Minister Vaughan Gething over his government’s refusal to back a Wales-specific inquiry earlier this year.

Mr Millar has led calls for a comprehensive investigation into how devolved public bodies — including local councils, social services, the NHS, and the Children’s Commissioner — responded to organised sexual exploitation across Wales. He also urged the First Minister to release all relevant correspondence and documentation, and to meet with “Emily,” a Welsh woman who was groomed as a child, trafficked across the UK, and raped more than a thousand times by gangs of men.

Emily’s story, which has already been raised in both the Senedd and Westminster, has prompted renewed scrutiny of safeguarding failures within devolved Welsh services, and calls from survivors and campaigners for a dedicated inquiry focusing on Wales.

Welcoming the UK-wide inquiry, Paul Davies MS said: “Now that an inquiry into grooming gangs has been confirmed, the Welsh Government must cooperate fully by ensuring that all relevant correspondence with police, councils, and social services is published.
Brave victims and survivors like Emily must be heard, and I hope that the First Minister will at least meet with her to listen to her experience.
We must now make sure this inquiry delivers justice for every survivor. There is no room for delay.”

Samuel Kurtz MS added: “This inquiry is long overdue. It should have commenced six months ago, and it is deeply disappointing that the Welsh Government voted against establishing a Welsh inquiry at the time.
Equally concerning was the decision by Pembrokeshire’s Labour MP to oppose a national inquiry during a vote in Westminster.
With a UK-wide inquiry now confirmed, the Welsh Government must demonstrate transparency by publishing all relevant correspondence with the police, local authorities, and social services.
Most importantly, the First Minister should meet with Emily — a courageous Welsh survivor who has spent years campaigning to protect other children. Listening to her story is the very least she deserves.”

The Welsh Government has not yet confirmed whether it will publish the relevant documents or agree to a meeting with Emily. However, support for her campaign is growing across party lines, with several Members of the Senedd now backing a motion calling for full transparency and a direct meeting with survivors.

Earlier this year, Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay were criticised for voting down a motion to hold a Wales-specific inquiry into the handling of grooming and child sexual exploitation cases, despite mounting evidence that the issue is not confined to English towns and cities.

Campaigners argue that many of the same institutional failings identified in previous high-profile English cases — such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford — may also be present in Wales, but have been overlooked or under-reported.

The UK-wide inquiry, announced after months of pressure and a high-profile campaign, marks a significant U-turn by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, whose party previously voted against a similar proposal in the House of Commons. The new inquiry is expected to examine patterns of grooming, failures in police and council responses, and the extent to which public bodies were aware of the abuse but failed to act.

Entertainment

Pembrokeshire soprano to perform at International Eisteddfod

Published

4 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST music teacher and soprano soloist Clare Harrison is set to perform at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen next month.

Clare will sing under the baton of Sir Karl Jenkins on Tuesday, July 7, as part of the World Choir, an auditioned international chorus of singers, for the long-awaited Welsh premiere of his work One World.

She will also perform in a new commission, Greeting the Dawn, by Sam Buttler, and in Peace Child with Wrexham-based chorus NEW Voices.

Clare combines a busy teaching schedule with regular solo performances across Wales and the borders.

Her next Pembrokeshire appearance will be as soloist with Tenby Male Choir at St Mary’s Church, Tenby, on Thursday, July 16.

Caption:

Clare Harrison: The Haverfordwest soprano will perform at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.

News

Rhun ap Iorwerth urges new deal for Wales after Starmer quits

Published

11 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

First Minister says next Prime Minister must focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for Wales’ democratic mandate

FIRST MINISTER Rhun ap Iorwerth has said the next UK Prime Minister must commit to a “new relationship with Wales” as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to leave office.

The Plaid Cymru leader said he wished Sir Keir well, but warned that political instability in Westminster was affecting the Welsh Government’s ability to engage with Number 10 on issues that matter to people in Wales.

***First Minister: Rhun ap Iorwerth says Wales needs greater powers, fair funding and respect from Westminster***

His comments came after Starmer announced on Monday (Jun 22) that he would resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party.

Starmer will remain in Downing Street until Labour selects a successor.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “I am disappointed that the Welsh Government’s ability to engage with the UK Prime Minister on issues which matter to the people of Wales is being hampered by the turmoil in Westminster.

“I wish Sir Keir Starmer well as he prepares to leave office. I would like to see his successor recognising that Wales needs a new relationship with Westminster, with a focus on greater powers, fair funding, and respect for the democratic mandate delivered by the people of Wales.

“My government and I will always seek a constructive relationship with whoever is in Number 10, but we have clear expectations that the respect agenda must work both ways.”

In a shorter statement posted online, the First Minister added: “The next PM must commit to a new relationship with Wales — with a focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for our mandate.”

Labour’s National Executive Committee is expected to open nominations for the party leadership on July 9, with the process due to be completed before Parliament returns from its summer break in September if a contest is required.

Andy Burnham is widely expected to enter the race after returning to Parliament following his victory in the Makerfield by-election.

The change of leadership comes at a sensitive time for Wales, with questions over fair funding, the future of devolution, public services and the relationship between Cardiff Bay and Westminster likely to feature prominently in the weeks ahead.

News

Welsh Conservatives say Starmer resignation will not fix Labour’s failures

Published

32 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Darren Millar says Wales needs “tough decisions” as Labour prepares to choose a new Prime Minister

THE LEADER of the Welsh Conservatives has said Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation will not change the impact of Labour’s failures on Wales.

Darren Millar MS said replacing one Labour leader with another would not solve the problems facing families and businesses across the country.

His comments came after Starmer announced on Monday (Jun 22) that he would resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party.

Starmer will remain in office until Labour selects a successor, with Andy Burnham widely expected to enter the race.

***Darren Millar MS: Said replacing one Labour leader with another would not solve the problems facing the country***

The Welsh Conservatives said Wales was still facing the consequences of Labour decisions on the cost of living, energy, welfare and defence spending.

They said the focus should now be on “getting Britain working again” rather than simply changing the person leading the Labour Party.

Mr Millar said: “Sir Keir Starmer may be going, but Labour’s failures remain.

“The last thing Wales and the rest of the UK needs is another Labour leader who won’t stand up to Labour MPs on welfare, energy, defence spending and action on the cost of living.

“His decision is a reminder that Kemi Badenoch is the only leader of a political party in the UK with the backbone to make tough decisions and get Britain working again.”

The resignation has triggered a major political transition at Westminster.

For Wales, the change at No 10 comes at a time of growing political pressure over public services, household costs, economic growth and the future direction of the UK Government.

Welsh Labour figures are likely to face renewed scrutiny as opposition parties seek to link the party’s record in Westminster with its long period in power in Cardiff Bay.

The Conservatives are expected to argue that a change of Labour leader will not mean a change of policy unless the party changes direction.

Starmer said in his resignation speech that becoming Prime Minister had been the “proudest moment” of his life, but accepted that his party no longer believed he was best placed to lead it into the next general election.