Tory leader Kemi Badenoch refuses to apologise after paedo defenders' jibe

"During their weekly exchange on Wednesday, the Conservative leader challenged Sir Keir Starmer directly, stating he should 'ask why his backbenchers are saying that they're being called the paedo defenders party'. Her controversial jibe followed a report in The Times, which detailed how female Labour MPs had informed Sir Keir earlier this month that voters had 'screamed' the phrase at them in the street, linking it to the Peter Mandelson scandal."

"Kemi Badenoch has said she would 'absolutely not apologise' for claiming Labour was being branded a 'paedo defenders party' during Prime Minister's Questions. Mrs Badenoch's remarks have since drawn significant criticism from Labour MP Natalie Fleet, who was groomed as a teenager, and Katie Amess, daughter of the murdered Tory MP Sir David Amess."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch made controversial remarks during Prime Minister's Questions, challenging Sir Keir Starmer about Labour backbenchers claiming voters called them the 'paedo defenders party.' Her comments referenced a Times report detailing how female Labour MPs told Starmer that constituents had used this phrase against them, linking it to the Peter Mandelson scandal. Badenoch stated she would 'absolutely not apologise' for the jibe. The remarks drew significant criticism from Labour MP Natalie Fleet, a grooming survivor, and Katie Amess, daughter of murdered Tory MP Sir David Amess. Fleet condemned the language as disgusting and expressed concern it endangered Labour activists.

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