Haringey’s Liberal Democrat councillors have called the appointment of former Islington Labour leader, Margaret Hodge, as the new children’s minister as ‘inappropriate’ and have called on the Government to remove her from her new post following reports of her failings as Leader of Islington Council to deal with council staff abusing children in care in the 1980s and 90s.

Social Services Spokesman Ron Aitken says that it is particularly inappropriate that someone who has failed in fulfilling their duties as Council Leader should be given such an important new ministerial role created following the Laming enquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie, where once again Labour council leaders were condemned for their failures.

Lib Dem social services spokesperson, Ron Aitken comments:

“Appointing Margaret Hodge continues the practice of allowing Labour politicians to avoid the blame for catastrophic child protection failures. It confirms the culture of leaving junior staff to carry the can which Lord Laming so rightly slammed, and shows how new Labour have not taken heed of Lord Laming’s conclusions.”