Tag Archives: baby p

Baby P at PMQs

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There was an unedifying spat at Prime Minister’s Questions today between David Cameron and Gordon Brown, which seemed to turn the tragedy of Baby P into a political football. It was just awful to watch.

I didn’t think I’d get the chance to ask a question myself – but just before the end of PMQs, the Speaker called me. I made that point that when Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council during the Climbie affair I was given all sorts of assurances about how lessons had been learnt, never again etc.

So – whilst the national review Gordon Brown talked about is welcome, it isn’t all that we need. We need an independent public inquiry into what went wrong in Haringey – and for those responsible to to be held responsible.

My goodness – if the Controller of Radio 2 resigns over the tasteless Brand / Ross prank phone call – then surely there will be people held accountable for the tragedy of Baby P?

Baby P verdict

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The verdict in the Baby P trial has just been announced. My initial reaction as more and more details come to light is that my horror and sadness turning to anger. How after the Victoria Climbie tragedy can a poor child fall through safety net after safety net? The facts of the case are simply appalling.

Haringey Council should have prevented this death. I refuse to stand by and watch them squirm out of responsibility again. Between Baby P’s death and the trial they have tried their best to misinform, stonewall and bully anyone questioning their role and responsibility.

The Children’s Act was borne out of tragedy in Haringey after the death of Victoria Climbié. Yet eight years after her death the law created to stop this happening again has failed to prevent a similar tragedy in the same borough.

Hundreds of our local children rely on the council, its social workers, its officers and its leaders to protect them from abuse. This is why we need a full independent investigation into why Haringey Council has failed.

Update: huge coverage of this tragedy through the media, including BBC and The Independent.

Tragic death

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Yesterday – was phoned by journalists for comments on the poor 17 month old boy who died in a north London hospital having being horrifically wounded. It looks as if Haringey may be in the frame as the child was thought to be on the ‘at risk’ register and the police have arrested his mother and her boyfriend.

Of course, the first thing I (and everyone else) always think of when this sort of news hits the streets is Victoria Climbie. Having been a councillor at the time – and seen the catalogue of mistakes made by a number of agencies (not just Haringey Council) – I can’t help wondering whether this case is in any way a result of lessons not being learned. I was always horrified that no officer and no politician resigned or was sacked over Victoria – only the end of the chain social worker paid any price for that tragedy.

However, no information hard information as yet – so need to wait and see before forming any views or conclusions.