• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
• The decision follows a report by Baroness Louise Casey highlighting systemic failures.
• Public pressure, including criticism from Elon Musk, contributed to the inquiry announcement.
• Thousands of girls have been abused over decades, particularly in northern English towns.
• The inquiry aims to address long-standing issues of exploitation and institutional neglect.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a national inquiry into the "grooming gangs" scandal that has seen thousands of girls sexually abused across the UK. This decision marks a reversal from his previous stance, in light of new findings from an independent report by Baroness Louise Casey. "I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation," Starmer stated, affirming the necessity for the inquiry after initially resisting calls for a statutory review according to Reuters and Dawn.

The inquiry will be based on findings from Casey's audit, which revealed that "vulnerable white British girls were institutionally ignored" by authorities like police and local governments. Starmer noted that originally, Casey had believed a national inquiry was unnecessary, but her view changed after reviewing the scale of exploitation. Critics have previously alleged that authorities were reluctant to act due to fears of being labeled racist, a concern amplified by public commentary from figures such as Elon Musk, who criticized the UK government's handling of the issue, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

The abuse scandal dates back over a decade, primarily affecting young girls in northern towns like Rotherham and Rochdale, where gangs of mostly Pakistani men engaged in systematic exploitation. This decision has garnered reactions from various political figures, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who expressed relief that the inquiry is finally taking place. She emphasized the urgency for resolution, stating that survivors need answers without long delays, as reported by India Times and South China Morning Post.