When is a U-turn not a U-turn? when it's less complete the number of times he did this It's more of a change of direction. The question looms over Keir Starmer, who announced a review into grooming gangs, the second time this week he has made such a U-turn.

Finance Minister Tulip Siddiq resigned on Tuesday amid controversial family corruption allegations that centered on her aunt, the former president of Bangladesh. Downing Street has insisted for days that the facts must first be established.

Likewise, after the government argued for more than a week that a second national inquiry into grooming gangs would only waste time and delay meaningful action, a national "audit" into the issue has been unveiled - although it will last for three months instead of years.

Governments often change reality before political pressure becomes overwhelming and policy changes are inevitable. The weird thing about Starmer's approach is that it's part of adhering to correct procedures.

So as Siddique's death was delayed pending an investigation by Starmer's ethics advisers, concessions to the grooming gang became part of a series of carefully planned measures for which celebrities including Louise Casey were fronted. part.

Some key figures in Starmer's government believe a full national inquiry is inevitable given public concerns about the grooming of gangs and the possible cover-up of conduct linked to them.

It's not done yet: Casey's review is more of a quick summary of the available evidence. It will depend on a series of smaller local inquiries but will not have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence into the inquiry into how and why authorities failed so many victims.

Is this enough? The reaction in the House of Commons to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's statement outlining the new plans suggested that probably not.

Cooper's Tory shadow Chris Philp condemned the plans as "completely inadequate", while Reform MPs have spoken out on the issue, raising concerns about a lack of statutory powers.

Much of that may depend on forces beyond the control of Cooper or her rival, Elon Musk. It’s a disgusting fact that no one in government wants to admit, but it seems unlikely that we would have done so much without the billionaire’s active and often misguided and abusive intervention into the issue through his own X Platform action, and it certainly won’t be like it is now. quickly.

Like other well-known but long-standing and intractable scandals, such as the tainted blood investigation and the Post Office's Horizon IT fiasco, Cooper and her team would have done something to deal with the sting ring - and probably sooner than the previous administration - But not as a priority.

Just days away from the inauguration of Donald Trump, for whom Musk hopes to serve as a key aide, his attention may be divided. But after Thursday's announcement, that may not matter. It looks like Cooper will be dealing with the issue of the sting ring for a long time to come.