The Conservative Party has called for criminal dual nationals convicted of grooming children to be stripped of their British citizenship and deported, proposing that this policy should apply even to those born in the United Kingdom. The party has also suggested imposing visa restrictions and withholding aid from countries, such as Pakistan, that refuse to accept the return of offenders.

In a statement outlining the party’s position, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch emphasized the need for institutions, including mosques, to cooperate with officials as part of a comprehensive national inquiry into grooming gangs. Badenoch and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp outlined their vision for a statutory inquiry, asserting it must be thorough and impartial, examining the ethnicity and religion of offenders and leaving "no stone unturned."

Philp stated that dual nationals should have their British citizenship revoked and be deported "with no exceptions," underscoring that those who hold citizenship elsewhere should be removed from the UK following criminal convictions. He added that there should be reciprocal arrangements with other countries to accept convicted criminals, noting that the United Kingdom complies with this standard.

Currently, the Home Secretary holds the power to strip dual nationals of British citizenship if it is deemed "conducive to the public good," although the measure is infrequently used and has often faced legal challenges. The proposed policy would extend the Conservatives’ existing stance, which centers on deporting foreign criminals and barring their return. It is expected that the party’s wider strategy on dual national offenders, which could impact approximately 1.24 million people residing in the UK, will be announced in due course.

The call for tougher measures follows cases such as the Rochdale grooming gang, where leaders Adil Khan, 55, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 56, were convicted in 2012 for sexually assaulting 47 girls, some as young as 12. Both men held dual British-Pakistani citizenship and were stripped of their British citizenship and ordered deported nearly a decade ago. They have, however, remained in the UK after Pakistan refused their return.

Conservatives indicated that the new proposals aim to address failures by the Labour government in progressing a national inquiry into grooming gangs. Since Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced such an inquiry in June, the process has been beset by difficulties, including the withdrawal of the final two candidates appointed to chair the inquiry in October and the resignation of a survivor liaison panel.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister stated the government hopes to provide an update on the inquiry soon. Meanwhile, a Labour representative reaffirmed the party’s commitment to a full statutory national inquiry.