Sir Keir Starmer was fielding questions from reporters on the way to the G7 summit in Canada when he made one of the biggest U-turns of his premiership.
That morning, The Times disclosed that a review by Baroness Casey of Blackstock had recommended a public inquiry into grooming gangs.
The recommendation was explosive. For months, Starmer had repeatedly ruled out an inquiry, arguing that it was unnecessary. At one point, he accused those calling for one of jumping on a “far-right bandwagon”.
• Grooming gangs inquiry — follow live
Casey’s recommendation left Starmer with no choice. “I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation,” he told journalists squeezed into the aisle of the plane.
