• All the main planks in Haringey’s defence of its conduct were rejected.
• Senior managers and councillors should be held accountable, says Lamming.
• Lib Dems say senior councillors must now take responsibly and resign from their posts.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone, who submitted evidence to the Laming Inquiry, comments:

“This is a damning report into the conduct of the council, not just for the terrible tragedy of this event, but also because no one has accepted responsibility for it. The feeble attempts of Haringey’s managers and ruling councillors to escape this responsibility has been completely exposed and condemned by Lord Lamming. It is time they finally took responsibility and resigned. The lessons of Victoria’s death will not be learned if the very same politicians who have been so heavily criticised continue in charge of child protection in the borough.”

Notes:

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the resignation of George Meehan (leader), Josie Irwin (former lead member social services), Takki Sulaiman (executive member social services), Gina Adamou (former executive member social services), all of whom where members of Social Services committee when Victoria died.

REJECTED: Haringey’s contention that the overall failures of the council didn’t contribute to Victoria’s death (Para 6.3)

REJECTED: Haringey’s contention that the level of funding for Social Services (cut by the council) didn’t matter (6.94)

REJECTED: The degree of restructuring the council’s social services department did not cause problems (6.129)

On managements and councillors:

“It is my view that senior managers and lead members could and should have known about the serious deficiencies in Haringey’s Children’s services in early 1999.” (6.171)

“The manner in which a number of senior managers and elected councillors within Haringey discharged their statutory responsibilities to safeguard and protect the welfare of children living in the borough was an important contributory factor in the mishandling of Victoria’s case.” (6.560)

“I was left unimpressed by the manner in which a number of senior managers and councillors from Haringey sought to distance themselves from the poor practice apparent in Victoria’s case” (6.561)

[The report’s criticisms] “are directed not just at the front line staff…but at senior mangers and councillors.” (6.564)