The House of Commons rejected an amendment proposing a nationwide inquiry into the UK grooming gang scandal on Wednesday. Opposition stemmed from concerns about the amendment’s presentation and amidst growing international attention fueled by Elon Musk.

The amendment, attached to a Labour government-backed children’s well-being and schools bill, sought a statutory inquiry into the scandal involving the long-term sexual abuse of girls in northern England by predominantly Pakistani-heritage men.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer argued that approving the amendment would jeopardize the entire bill. The amendment failed by 364 votes to 111, as reported by Sky News.

“We need action, not a vote against a bill protecting children,” Starmer stated before the vote, labeling the amendment a “wrecking amendment.”

Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch countered this.

“Lead, don’t just lawyer,” she retorted, advocating for a new inquiry to investigate interconnected issues across affected towns.

“A national inquiry is crucial because this is a systemic problem,” she explained, encompassing “local and national officials, police, prosecutors, and politicians.”

“Local inquiries alone can’t address these interconnected issues,” she added.

Previous investigations uncovered “appalling” abuse, with over 1,400 girls abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Reports indicated authorities feared exacerbating racism due to the perpetrators’ ethnicity. The scandal ignited existing anxieties about multiculturalism and mass immigration.

The issue resurfaced after Oldham officials urged a national inquiry into their town’s handling of the crisis. A 2022 report revealed official failures to protect children, but found no evidence of a cover-up despite concerns about right-wing exploitation.

The UK government rejected this request, suggesting local inquiries were sufficient. This prompted calls for a national inquiry from Badenoch and others.

“Thousands of girls across the country were tortured and sexually abused, their lives forever shattered. The Prime Minister mentioned previous inquiries; yes, there was one into child sexual abuse, but not this rape gang scandal,” Badenoch stated.

Musk, who has been actively highlighting the issue on X – even calling for the prosecution of top UK government officials, including Starmer – again appealed to the British public before the vote.

“Tell your MP that the hundreds of thousands of British girls who were, and are still being, horrifically gang-raped deserve justice,” Musk tweeted on Wednesday.

“This is vital, or it will continue,” he added.

Starmer previously condemned “lies and misinformation,” without directly naming Musk, accusing UK politicians of exploiting a “far-right bandwagon.”

On Wednesday, he again accused Badenoch of bandwagoning and urged lawmakers to pass the bill.

“The bill protects vulnerable children today to prevent abuse. I urge members to reject the Opposition Leader’s misleading tactics and vote for this crucial bill.”