Search Begins For New Child Abuse Inquiry Chair

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 01 November 2014 | 14.44

The search is under way for a new head of the inquiry into historical child sex abuse after Fiona Woolf became the second chairwoman to quit.

Mrs Woolf stepped down on Friday after victims' groups told Home Office officials they were "unanimous" in the view that she should go.

They had raised concerns over Mrs Woolf's social links with former Home Secretary Lord Brittan, who is likely to be called to give evidence to the inquiry.

Her predecessor, Lady Butler-Sloss, resigned in July after similar questions were raised over her ties to prominent figures associated with the investigation.

The race is now on to find a suitable replacement as Home Secretary Theresa May faces criticism over the two failed appointments.

Video: Woolf Quits Child Abuse Inquiry

Chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, Keith Vaz, told Sky News: "This has been a chaotic process.

"One would have expected the Government to have learnt from the first resignation of Lady Butler-Sloss, (and) to have consulted widely, to have done their due diligence and then to have presented to parliament and the public the name of the new chair.

"All they've succeeded in doing is delay the start of this inquiry, and frankly embarrass Fiona Woolf, who has had to resign because of the whole process that has been involved in her appointment."

Mrs May is expected to face some tough questions from MPs when she makes a statement to Parliament on Monday outlining the next steps in the process.

1/6

  1. Gallery: The Redrafted Letter At Centre Of Woolf Row

    A letter from Fiona Woolf to the Home Secretary referring to her links to Leon Brittan went through several drafts.

  2. Chair of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz criticised Mrs Woolf, saying the final version showed a more "detached" relationship with the Brittans than the first one. For example, it stressed there were a number of other people present at dinner parties.

  3. Mr Vaz had said Mrs Woolf's appointment had been "chaotic" and she should decide whether she wishes to remain as chair of the inquiry. It was confirmed on Friday afternoon that she would be stepping down

Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mrs May needs to explain why simple background checks were not done ahead of Mrs Woolf's appointment.

"It seems inexplicable, given what happened to the first head of the inquiry, that some basic questions were not asked of Fiona Woolf, before she was appointed, about her connections," he said.

"Theresa May has some explaining to do. To lose one chair is a misfortune but to lose two is total carelessness on her part."

Mrs Woolf came under increasing criticism following claims a letter setting out her contacts with the Lord and Lady Britton was redrafted seven times, with guidance from Home Office officials, before being sent to the Home Secretary.

Video: Woolf Resignation: 'Very Damaging'

Announcing her resignation she said: "Ever since the issues first arose, I've been worrying about the negative perceptions and there's been a lot of negative comment and innuendo and that has been getting in the way as well.

"I was determined that the inquiry got to the bottom of the issues for them and if I don't command their confidence to run the panel fairly and impartially then I need to get out of the way."

Mrs Woolf was appointed last month to chair the inquiry, which was launched earlier this year to examine whether alleged abuse by politicians and other powerful figures between the 1970s and 1990s was swept under the carpet.

She replaced Lady Butler-Sloss, who stepped down after her suitability was called into question, due to the fact her late brother, Lord Havers, was attorney general during the period when many of the alleged offences are said to have taken place.


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Search Begins For New Child Abuse Inquiry Chair

Dengan url

http://kotasepisunyi.blogspot.com/2014/11/search-begins-for-new-child-abuse.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Search Begins For New Child Abuse Inquiry Chair

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Search Begins For New Child Abuse Inquiry Chair

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger