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Child sex abuse inquiry: Dame Lowell Goddard must explain resignation, say MPs Child sex abuse inquiry: Dame Lowell Goddard must explain resignation, say MPs
(about 2 hours later)
MPs have called for the former head of the child sexual abuse inquiry to appear before them to explain her sudden departure. MPs have asked the former head of the child sex abuse inquiry to explain her departure amid concerns the government was aware of misconduct claims.
Dame Lowell Goddard quit on 4 August but on Friday denied a report claiming misconduct and racism against her. Dame Lowell Goddard quit in August but denied a report on Friday alleging misconduct and racism against her.
The Home Office said it had received no formal complaint about Dame Lowell. The most senior civil servant in the Home Office has also been asked to explain to MPs what the government knew about her resignation.
But the most senior civil servant in the Home Office has also been asked to explain to MPs what the government knew about her resignation. Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Amber Rudd may also appear.
On Friday, the Times said senior Home Office staff and advisers knew about alleged derogatory comments and other complaints. Asked if the inquiry was now an embarrassment, Mrs May told the BBC: "No it's very important. We have to remember about all the survivors and victims of Child Sexual Abuse who deserve justice."
Dame Lowell is alleged to have said Britain had so many paedophiles "because it has so many Asian men", according to the paper.
The senior New Zealand judge has hit back at the claims, calling them "false" and "malicious".
She said: "I confirm my absolute rejection of this attack. I am confident that in New Zealand my known reputation from my work over many years will provide its own refutation of these falsities."
Permanent secretary Mark Sedwill will be asked to appear in front of the Home Affairs Select Committee, possibly as early as Tuesday.
MP Tim Loughton, the committee's acting chair, said Mr Sedwill would be giving evidence "on the basis that he was sitting alongside the new Home Secretary [Amber Rudd] when the committee questioned her about the Lowell Goddard situation."
Ms Rudd told the committee at the time: "I think she [Dame Lowell] went because she felt it too much for her and although she could contribute to it... ultimately she found it too lonely, she was a long way from home and she decided to step down."
However, on Friday the Home Office said it had been "made aware of concerns about the professionalism and competence of Justice Goddard" on 29 July, six days before she was to resign.
Diane Abbott MP, Labour's shadow home secretary, said: "We must be given an assurance that there was no attempt to cover the accusations made about Judge Goddard.
"Because if true, it would mean that the home secretary knowingly put at risk the integrity of the entire inquiry."
Mr Loughton said the committee would need to "decide whether to call Theresa May, rather than Amber Rudd, as she was home secretary when the whole thing came to a head about Lowell Goddard".
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is investigating the extent to which institutions in England and Wales have failed to protect children from sexual abuse.The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is investigating the extent to which institutions in England and Wales have failed to protect children from sexual abuse.
Dame Lowell, the third inquiry head to quit, resigned in August after 18 months in the role. Dame Lowell was appointed in February 2015 and became the third inquiry head to quit, resigning in August after 18 months in the role.
Several sources told the BBC in August that tensions between Dame Lowell and inquiry staff were behind her departure, along with serious concerns about her ability to do the job. Ms Rudd told the Home Affairs Select Committee at the time that she believed Dame Lowell left because she was homesick.
Though the child abuse inquiry is independent of the government, the Home Office would have had the power to remove the judge from her post, but a Home Office statement said it had received no formal complaint. But on Friday, the Times reported that Dame Lowell had been accused of making racist comments and being rude to junior staff, and that senior Home Office staff and advisers knew about alleged comments and other complaints.
The Home Affairs Select Committee has asked Dame Lowell to provide further details of her departure in person or by video link from her home in New Zealand. The senior New Zealand judge hit back at the claims, and called them "false" and "malicious".
However, on Friday the Home Office said it had been "made aware of concerns about the professionalism and competence of Justice Goddard" on 29 July, six days before she resigned.
The committee has asked Dame Lowell to provide further details of her departure in person or by video link from her home in New Zealand.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who is a member of the committee, said: "Not only would this help with the smooth running of the inquiry going forward, but I believe she owes it to the survivors and their families."Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who is a member of the committee, said: "Not only would this help with the smooth running of the inquiry going forward, but I believe she owes it to the survivors and their families."
Permanent secretary Mark Sedwill will now be asked to appear in front of the Home Affairs Select Committee, possibly as early as Tuesday.
MP Tim Loughton, the committee's acting chair, said Mr Sedwill would be giving evidence "on the basis that he was sitting alongside the new Home Secretary [Amber Rudd] when the committee questioned her about the Lowell Goddard situation."
Mr Loughton said the committee would also need to "decide whether to call Theresa May, rather than Amber Rudd, as she was home secretary when the whole thing came to a head about Lowell Goddard".
Diane Abbott MP, Labour's shadow home secretary, said they were "grave allegations" and demanded an assurance there had been no attempt to hide the accusations made about Dame Lowell.
"Because if true, it would mean that the home secretary knowingly put at risk the integrity of the entire inquiry," she said.
Though the child abuse inquiry is independent of the government, the Home Office would have had the power to remove the judge from her post, but a Home Office statement said it had received no formal complaint.
A source on the committee said it did not have the power to compel Dame Lowell to appear but suggested it could announce a formal censure if she failed to give further evidence.A source on the committee said it did not have the power to compel Dame Lowell to appear but suggested it could announce a formal censure if she failed to give further evidence.
The committee is to question the new chair, Prof Alexis Jay, on Tuesday.The committee is to question the new chair, Prof Alexis Jay, on Tuesday.