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Politics Unpacked

PMQs: Grooming Gangs Inquiry In Chaos

Politics Unpacked

Anna Covell

News & Politics, Politics, News

4.41.4K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Hugo Rifkind unpacks this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions with Gabriel Pogrund from The Sunday Times and comedian Gráinne Maguire.


After several grooming gang victims withdrew from the inquiry process, Sir Keir Starmer vows to deliver justice — but can he restore confidence in the investigation?



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Transcript

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0:00.0

PMQ's Unpacked on Times Radio. Unpacking the politics and cutting through the crossfire. And I'm joined by the Sunday Times Whitehall editor, Gabriel, Gabriel. Hello, Gabriel. How are you keeping? I'm very well. Good to have you here. And also by the comedian Gronia Maguire. Hello, Gronia. Hello, so good to be back. It's great to have you here. Gabriel, what do you think she's going to talk about today, Kevin Baylock, grooming gangs?

0:22.0

I think she's going to major on grooming gangs.

0:24.1

I think that notwithstanding Kimmy's ability,

0:29.5

infinite capacity sometimes to talk about the thing,

0:31.8

other than the thing, other than the capital T thing,

0:35.3

I think that she will go quite down route one in this regard.

0:39.8

It's a matter that she sought to make hail of in the past.

0:42.8

It's very timely you've had people resigning from this inquiry,

0:46.6

and the government's in an awkward spot, but it hasn't selected a chair.

0:49.2

So I think that given Star was already, you turned on the calling of the inquiry.

0:54.0

It's be pleased to prosecute him on that. Yeah, and I think also, as you say, it's very timely, but not so timely that it's happened this morning, because there's things have happened this morning. She's obviously very, very, very, she doesn't like that at all. But she's had a bit of a run-up. What do you think, Gronia? I went to see the musical cabaret last night. Where is this going? Yes. So I'm feeling a lot more upbeat about the fall of democracy.

1:14.8

Right. I think it could be a bit of a laugh. So I'm just looking to be entertained for the next 15 minutes. You're thinking whatever happens tomorrow belongs to me. Tomorrow belongs to me. I've been feeling Kira Stram was going to announce Liberon Air a tattoo of St. George's Day flag. Right. I think that... Obligatory for all. Yeah, I think that's what I'm hoping for. That'd be a good veridity test for the cabinet if you really back Britain. Exactly. We've talked about this before. He does accuse people of not believing in Britain. Yes. Maybe if you do, you ought to, I guess the Union Jack, or the George's Cross would suffice.

1:46.3

But weird, not believing in Britain.

1:47.6

I mean, it's like not believing in Britain. Yes. Maybe if you do, you ought to, I guess the Union Jack,

1:44.4

or the George's Cross would suffice.

1:46.3

But weird, not believing in Britain.

1:47.6

I mean, it's like not believing in Santa. It's like, you know, Britain's right there. You can see it. Anyway, Gabriel, you and Patrick McGuire have a story in this week's episode of the State of it podcast that senior figures in Downing Street. reportedly lost confidence in Sir Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant.

2:01.9

Do you think she might go in on that at all?

2:04.5

I can't move for Maguire today. It's my lucky day. We're taking over. I love the Irish people. I mean, we have, of course, had double Maguire in this section quite a lot. Yeah, I know. Some Maguire respite today. None for me, but I think she might.

2:18.2

I mean, so this is our scoop as the political operation in Downing Street.

2:23.8

Yep.

2:24.3

In fact, it goes much broader than that.

...

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