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| Baby Peter boss Sharon Shoesmith 'does not do blame' | Baby Peter boss Sharon Shoesmith 'does not do blame' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Ex-children's services director Sharon Shoesmith has said she "does not do blame" after winning a legal battle over Baby Peter's death. | Ex-children's services director Sharon Shoesmith has said she "does not do blame" after winning a legal battle over Baby Peter's death. |
| On Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled that she had been sacked unfairly from her job in Haringey in north London. | On Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled that she had been sacked unfairly from her job in Haringey in north London. |
| She told the BBC she was not into the "blame game" and "you cannot stop the death of children". | She told the BBC she was not into the "blame game" and "you cannot stop the death of children". |
| Baby Peter Connelly, who had been seen 60 times by the authorities, was found dead in 2007 with over 50 injuries. | Baby Peter Connelly, who had been seen 60 times by the authorities, was found dead in 2007 with over 50 injuries. |
| Ms Shoesmith learned of her sacking in December 2008 in a live televised press conference by the then Children's Secretary Balls. | Ms Shoesmith learned of her sacking in December 2008 in a live televised press conference by the then Children's Secretary Balls. |
| She told the Guardian newspaper that Mr Balls had been "staggeringly irresponsible" and his actions had left children's social care in "complete disarray". | She told the Guardian newspaper that Mr Balls had been "staggeringly irresponsible" and his actions had left children's social care in "complete disarray". |
| 'Psyche of the nation' | 'Psyche of the nation' |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said while she did not "do blame", she accepted responsibility for failings in her department and was sorry for the death of Baby P, subsequently named as Peter Connelly. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said while she did not "do blame", she accepted responsibility for failings in her department and was sorry for the death of Baby P, subsequently named as Peter Connelly. |
| She said blame would not produce "anything productive" and it was important to consider the bigger picture. | She said blame would not produce "anything productive" and it was important to consider the bigger picture. |
| "As a director of children's services I cannot control what the police do, I cannot control what health does," she said. | "As a director of children's services I cannot control what the police do, I cannot control what health does," she said. |
| David Cameron is lined up against the judges, again, this time over the consequences of an unspeakable death. | |
| Three Appeal Court judges ruled that the sacking of the woman whose council team failed to stop the killing of Peter Connelly was unfair. | |
| It comes after Sharon Shoesmith sought judicial review of an earlier decision by an employment tribunal which went against her. | |
| Mr Cameron believes this throws up significant constitutional issues over who makes the decisions - judges or elected politicians? | |
| He reacted to the ruling by saying "it does seem to me important that governments are able to manage their organisations and provide accountability when things go wrong". | |
| That was a prime ministerial swipe at the judges from a politician who knows this is an extremely emotive case. But the government, like any other employer, has to abide by the law in the way it deals with its staff. | |
| "I cannot control the fact when a social worker is referring a child for abuse that she rings up and finds that a case has not been allocated to a police officer for four months. I can't control those matters, this is much more complex than saying you are responsible, let's sack you and the whole psyche of the nation will be at peace." | "I cannot control the fact when a social worker is referring a child for abuse that she rings up and finds that a case has not been allocated to a police officer for four months. I can't control those matters, this is much more complex than saying you are responsible, let's sack you and the whole psyche of the nation will be at peace." |
| Addressing speculation that she could be in line for more than £500,000 compensation, Ms Shoesmith said: "I haven't thought anything about compensation, chief in mind is winning this appeal and then supporting four other people who have also been sacked in social care," she said. | Addressing speculation that she could be in line for more than £500,000 compensation, Ms Shoesmith said: "I haven't thought anything about compensation, chief in mind is winning this appeal and then supporting four other people who have also been sacked in social care," she said. |
| In her Guardian interview, she said she was "never in it for the money" and had "wanted the truth to be told". | In her Guardian interview, she said she was "never in it for the money" and had "wanted the truth to be told". |
| She also told the paper she was "shocked" when she heard about her sacking on television. | She also told the paper she was "shocked" when she heard about her sacking on television. |
| Ms Shoesmith added: "I'm still staggered by how irresponsible the secretary of state was. He almost demonstrated his lack of knowledge and understanding of children's social care. | Ms Shoesmith added: "I'm still staggered by how irresponsible the secretary of state was. He almost demonstrated his lack of knowledge and understanding of children's social care. |
| "This was his department yet he took steps that led it into complete disarray." | "This was his department yet he took steps that led it into complete disarray." |
| Ms Shoesmith spoke of suffering vilification following the Baby Peter tragedy. | Ms Shoesmith spoke of suffering vilification following the Baby Peter tragedy. |
| "There were things like death threats, there were worries about possibly an arson attack," she said. | "There were things like death threats, there were worries about possibly an arson attack," she said. |
| "To this day I have got a wire cage screwed to the back of my door lined in foil which will hold a fire if something burning came through." | "To this day I have got a wire cage screwed to the back of my door lined in foil which will hold a fire if something burning came through." |
| Months of abuse | Months of abuse |
| Ms Shoesmith's appeal challenged a High Court ruling that cleared Mr Balls, the north London borough of Haringey and watchdog Ofsted of acting unlawfully. | Ms Shoesmith's appeal challenged a High Court ruling that cleared Mr Balls, the north London borough of Haringey and watchdog Ofsted of acting unlawfully. |
| On Friday, three Court of Appeal judges dismissed her appeal against Ofsted. The Department for Education and Haringey plan to appeal to the Supreme Court. | On Friday, three Court of Appeal judges dismissed her appeal against Ofsted. The Department for Education and Haringey plan to appeal to the Supreme Court. |
| Mr Balls said the Appeal Court decision would be "greeted with surprise across the country" and insisted he would "make the same decisions again". | Mr Balls said the Appeal Court decision would be "greeted with surprise across the country" and insisted he would "make the same decisions again". |
| BBC political correspondent Robin Brant says Prime Minister David Cameron has made it clear that he has a real problem with this decision because he believes elected ministers should be the ones who make key decisions about their departments. | BBC political correspondent Robin Brant says Prime Minister David Cameron has made it clear that he has a real problem with this decision because he believes elected ministers should be the ones who make key decisions about their departments. |
| "For the prime minister it is about accountability," he said. "It's about elected ministers deciding if people like Sharon Shoesmith are doing a good or bad job. He doesn't think it should be up to judges." | "For the prime minister it is about accountability," he said. "It's about elected ministers deciding if people like Sharon Shoesmith are doing a good or bad job. He doesn't think it should be up to judges." |
| Seventeen-month-old Baby Peter was found to have suffered fractured ribs and a broken back after months of abuse at home. | Seventeen-month-old Baby Peter was found to have suffered fractured ribs and a broken back after months of abuse at home. |
| His mother, her partner and a lodger were all jailed for causing or allowing his death. | His mother, her partner and a lodger were all jailed for causing or allowing his death. |