Sex Abuse Inquiry Judge Quits As Head Of Probe

A retired judge chosen to spearhead one of two key inquiries into claims of historical child abuse has stepped down.

Elizabeth Butler-Sloss was picked to examine whether alleged abuse by politicians and other powerful figures between the 1970s and 1990s was swept under the carpet.

However, her appointment was engulfed in controversy because as an establishment figure herself - she was considered the wrong person among victim groups and child protection campaigners to head the Government's investigation into a possible cover-up.

In addition, her late brother, Tory MP Sir Michael Havers, was the Attorney General and Lord Chancellor in during the 1980s.

Public figures have been accused of abusing children in Westminster

He is alleged to have had a row with former Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens in the 1980s in an attempt to stop him using parliamentary privilege to make allegations about paedophilia.

Baroness Butler-Sloss, who had rejected calls to quit, said in a statement that following "a widespread perception" she was not the right person to chair the inquiry, "I did not sufficiently consider whether my background and the fact my brother had been Attorney General would cause difficulties".

She said: "Having listened to the concerns of victim and survivor groups and the criticisms of MPs and the media, I have come to the conclusion that I should not chair this inquiry and have so informed the Home Secretary.

Theresa May has the task of appointing a new chair to spearhead the probe

"I should like to add that I have dedicated my life to public service, to the pursuit of justice and to protecting the rights of children and families and I wish the inquiry success in its important work."

David Cameron's official spokesman insisted the Prime Minister's view that the Baroness "would have done a first-class job as chair" remained unchanged.

"The reasons for her appointment still absolutely stand in terms of her professional expertise and her integrity, which I don't think has been questioned from any quarter whatsoever, and rightly so," he said, adding that it was entirely her own decision to stand down.

Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who has been leading a campaign for a full investigation into claims of historical child abuse and was one of several figures who had called for the peer to stand down, said she had made "the right decision".

He told Sky News: "From the moment it was announced I questioned the logic of having somebody who was so well-connected to the establishment. We always needed somebody who was more independent and could challenge the establishment like she never could."

Home Secretary Theresa May, who will be questioned by MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee later, said she was "deeply saddened" by the peer's decision and said a replacement chair would be announced as soon as possible.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the probe was "in danger of losing direction" unless a replacement that could "maintain the confidence of victims throughout" was appointed.

Sky's home affairs correspondent, Mark White, said the resignation had dealt the Government "a terrible headache" and they have to find someone "who can command the credibility they thought the Baroness would have been able to command".

White added: "They need to do that fairly urgently now, but they have got to be careful they don't make the same mistake."

Last week, Mark Sedwill, the top civil servant at the Home Office, admitted more than 100 files containing allegations of child sex abuse at Westminster were probably destroyed.

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