LABOUR has announced a “national review” into the scale of child grooming gangs.

But Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed yesterday that the review, to be led by Baroness Louise Casey, would not be the “inquiry” the Tories, the far right and tech billionaire Elon Musk have been insistently pushing for.

The review will be a quick-fire assessment of information about the extent of grooming gang offences.

The government is also to assist local authorities that want to hold inquiries into the problem in their own areas.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has so far blocked demands for a national inquiry, while indicating that he has an “open mind” on one being held in the future, depending on what victims want.

Ms Cooper also announced £10 million in extra funding to tackle the gangs and support their victims, as well as prioritising the implementation of the recommendations of the previous inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay, which the last government effectively ignored.