From Justin Hinchcliffe, Haringey Conservatives:
 
"I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that Labour-run Haringey has learnt absolutely nothing from the tragic case of Victoria Climbie. Our Social Services department and the weak and incompetent leadership of local politicians are failing our vulnerable children.  We were told that lessons would be learnt from Victoria Climbie's death. Anyone who has heard or read about the barbaric and evil treatment of Baby P cannot have failed to weep. As a Tottenham resident, I feel deeply saddened and angry; social workers visited Baby P on sixty occasions. It’s absolutely astonishing that no action was taken. Councillors Meehan and Santry - the Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Young People respectively and Sharon Shoesmith, the Director of Social Services, should immediately step down from their positions. Those doctors and social workers involved should be suspended pending an independent inquiry. That Inquiry should start as soon as possible. David Cameron was right to raise the matter at Prime Minister's Question Time. Gordon Brown had an opportunity to speak for the Nation and tell us how best we can avoid these terrible tragedies and support the growing number of calls for an independent Inquiry. Not only did he fail, he sought to score cheap political points. He misjudged the mood of the whole House and of the Nation."

ENDS.