LABOUR town halls are “covering up” child rape gang scandals, defiant Kemi Badenoch claimed today.

In a brutal PMQs clash, the Tory Leader accused Sir Keir Starmer of “dragging his heels” on an inquiry into whether local authorities failed to act on allegations of child sexual assault by grooming groups.

Ms Badenoch argued that “at least 50 towns are affected by rape gangs”. 

She blasted Sir Keir for refusing to commit to a national inquiry, insisting that Labour town halls are running scared of what could be exposed.

In a discomforting exchange, the Tory leader asked:  “Does the Prime Minister think we should expose this cover up?

“Is he dragging his heels on this because he doesn’t want Labour cover-ups exposed?” 

Hitting back, Sir Keir said the government is more committed to delivering “truth and justice” for victims than the Tories.

He accused Ms Badenoch of “staying silent” on the issue when she served in the last government.

The PM said: “I was the prosecutor who brought the first case and when that file was brought to my attention I noticed that one of the defendants had not been prosecuted previously.

“Far from covering up, I asked for that file so I could have a look at it.

“On the back of that I then changed the entire approach to prosecutions, which was then lauded by the government that we were doing the right thing, and brought those prosecutions.

“So my record was going after where I thought something had gone wrong and putting it right.

“She stayed silent throughout their years in government.”

The Home Office this month said that a £5million fund for five inquiries into grooming gangs in Oldham and other areas will instead be diverted to projects such as victims’ panels.