This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28225043

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Questions raised over Butler-Sloss inquiry position Questions raised over Butler-Sloss inquiry position
(35 minutes later)
The Home Office has defended the appointment of Elizabeth Butler-Sloss as chair of a child abuse review. The retired judge appointed to chair a child abuse review is facing growing calls to "step down" over her family connection with a previous probe.
A number of MPs have voiced private concern that her position is tainted as her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was Attorney General in the 1980s. Elizabeth Butler-Sloss was chosen by the home secretary to head the inquiry into allegations of historical abuse.
That means he was in the job at the time of the alleged paedophile scandal. But Labour's Simon Danczuk said her position was tainted because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was Attorney General in the 1980s.
He also faced criticism after he sought to stop Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens from naming in Parliament a top diplomat - Sir Peter Hayman - as a paedophile. The Home Office said Lady Butler-Sloss had "impeccable credentials".
BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said a number of MPs had said they viewed Baroness Butler-Sloss's position as compromised. Baroness Butler-Sloss, a former president of the Family Division of the High Court and chair of the Cleveland Child Abuse Inquiry, was announced on Tuesday as head of a wide-ranging probe into how allegations of abuse by politicians and other powerful figures in public institutions such as the NHS, the church and the BBC in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s was handled.
One said he had already received emails from victims of child abuse to protest at her appointment because of her family connection. But MPs and victims claim she is too close to the establishment, particularly as Sir Michael was Attorney General at the time of the alleged paedophile scandal.
One said he believed Lady Butler-Sloss, 80, would have to step down. Sir Michael faced criticism after he sought to stop Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens from naming in Parliament a top diplomat - Sir Peter Hayman - as a paedophile in the early 1980s.
"This is an issue and I don't think it is going to end well," the MP said. "She is an honourable woman and I think she may well decide to stand down herself." Mr Danczuk, who has investigated child sex abuse allegations against former Liberal MP Cyril Smith, said the revelations of a family connection with Sir Michael meant Lady Butler-Sloss' position was compromised.
A Home office source, however, defended the appointment of Lady Butler- Sloss despite her family link to the controversy. "I think the government should think again in terms of who they have appointed for this position," he said.
"I think she should consider her position. I find it quite surprising that neither she nor the government realised her relationship with her brother was connected to Geoffrey Dickens.
"It beggars belief that that wasn't considered in the first place."
The lawyer who represents alleged victims of child abuse has also urged the peer to step down.
Alison Millar, head of the abuse law team at Leigh Day Solicitors, told the BBC: "There needs to be not a shred of doubt that this inquiry is not an establishment cover up - and the concern really is that she is just too close to the establishment, particularly with this connection to Sir Michael Havers."
While Ms Millar described Lady Butler-Sloss as a person of enormous integrity, she said she doubted her clients would think she was the right person for the job.
Ms Millar represents some of the alleged victims of the Elm Guest House in London - the location where a number of sex abuse cases were alleged to have taken place.
A Home Office source, however, defended the appointment of Lady Butler- Sloss despite her family link to the controversy.
The source said: "She is a person of impeccable credentials and experience. Her record stands for itself regardless of her brother."The source said: "She is a person of impeccable credentials and experience. Her record stands for itself regardless of her brother."