Commenting on the news that the Audit Commission has rated Haringey a 'one-star' Council, Justin Hinchcliffe, of Haringey Conservatives, commented: "After the TechFresh IT fiasco, loss of £millions in Icelandic banks and the Baby P case, the Audit Commission has rightly deemed Labour-run Haringey to be a failing Council with little or no prospect of improving. It beggars belief that Haringey was ever given a three-star rating in the first place. People in Haringey are hit by a 'double whammy': we have an incompetent, failing and out-of-touch Council and Government. It's time for change"

The rating has been slashed from an “improving well” three stars last year, to a “not improving adequately” one star this year.

The report noted: “The council’s failure in its key priority to safeguard children has been publicly reported and it currently delivers an inadequate service for children and young people.

“There was insufficient strategic leadership and management oversight of the safeguarding of children and young people and a lack of rigorous arrangements for the management of performance.”

Next-door Conservative Enfield was awarded a four-star rating, up from three last year.

ENDS.