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Theresa May 'sorry' for two abuse inquiry resignations | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Home Secretary Theresa May has said she is "sorry" that the inquiry into historical child abuse has no chairman, following two resignations. | |
Fiona Woolf resigned on Friday, saying victims did not have confidence in her. | Fiona Woolf resigned on Friday, saying victims did not have confidence in her. |
She had faced pressure to quit over her social links to ex-Home Secretary Lord Brittan, whose handling of abuse claims in the 1980s has been questioned. | She had faced pressure to quit over her social links to ex-Home Secretary Lord Brittan, whose handling of abuse claims in the 1980s has been questioned. |
Predecessor Baroness Butler-Sloss resigned four months ago, also over her links with establishment figures. | |
The inquiry will continue its work while a new chairman is sought. | |
Labour has said the next chairman must have the confidence of victims' groups, while Lib Dem peer Lord Carlile said they should have experience of dealing with child abuse and child protection. | |
'Expertise' | |
Mrs May told MPs: "It's obviously very disappointing that we do not now have an inquiry chairman. For that I want to tell survivors (of abuse) that I'm sorry." | |
She added: "It will not be easy to find a chairman with the expertise to do this job and who has had no contact with an institution or individual about whom there are concerns." | |
Mrs May said the Home Affairs Committee would get to question the chosen candidate before they are appointed. | |
She announced the inquiry panel's preliminary hearings would begin on 12 November and take place every Wednesday until Christmas. There would also be six regional events going in to the new year, at which victims would give evidence. | |
"These will provide an early opportunity to hear their views about how the panel should go about its work," she said. | |
The inquiry, announced in July, was set up to look at how public bodies and other institutions handled claims of child sex abuse from the 1970s to the present day. | The inquiry, announced in July, was set up to look at how public bodies and other institutions handled claims of child sex abuse from the 1970s to the present day. |
This followed claims over many years about paedophiles in powerful places and alleged establishment attempts to cover up their actions. | This followed claims over many years about paedophiles in powerful places and alleged establishment attempts to cover up their actions. |
Baroness Butler-Sloss stepped down a week after being appointed when concerns were raised about her late brother being attorney general during the 1980s. | |
BBC deputy political editor James Landale said whoever was chosen needed to have "a lot of time" on their hands as they would effectively have to devote three years to the role. | BBC deputy political editor James Landale said whoever was chosen needed to have "a lot of time" on their hands as they would effectively have to devote three years to the role. |
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, rejected suggestions the job had become a "poisoned chalice". | Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, rejected suggestions the job had become a "poisoned chalice". |
"We're an island of 64 million people, and I'm certain that we have someone with the skills, the leadership qualities, the integrity, and the ability to have a hands-on approach for what will be a very long inquiry," he said. | "We're an island of 64 million people, and I'm certain that we have someone with the skills, the leadership qualities, the integrity, and the ability to have a hands-on approach for what will be a very long inquiry," he said. |
The government has said it wants the inquiry to publish interim findings before next April but legal experts have questioned whether this is feasible given the breadth of the subject matter. | The government has said it wants the inquiry to publish interim findings before next April but legal experts have questioned whether this is feasible given the breadth of the subject matter. |
Mrs Woolf's appointment was criticised by victims after it emerged she had social links to former Home Secretary Lord Brittan, who may be called to give evidence during the inquiry. He denies any wrongdoing in the way a "dossier" on alleged high-profile paedophiles was handled. | |
Mrs Woolf, the Lord Mayor of London, disclosed she had lived in the same street as Lord Brittan and had dinner with him five times between 2008 and 2012 - but said he was not a "close associate". | Mrs Woolf, the Lord Mayor of London, disclosed she had lived in the same street as Lord Brittan and had dinner with him five times between 2008 and 2012 - but said he was not a "close associate". |
She drew further criticism when Mr Vaz revealed a letter she sent to the committee about her relationship with the Conservative peer had been re-written seven times. | She drew further criticism when Mr Vaz revealed a letter she sent to the committee about her relationship with the Conservative peer had been re-written seven times. |
Abuse inquiry: How we got here | Abuse inquiry: How we got here |
1 July - MP Simon Danczuk calls on former Home Secretary Leon Brittan to say what he knew about paedophile allegations passed to him in the 1980s | 1 July - MP Simon Danczuk calls on former Home Secretary Leon Brittan to say what he knew about paedophile allegations passed to him in the 1980s |
7 July - Government announces independent inquiry into the way public bodies investigated and handled child sex abuse claims. Baroness Butler-Sloss chosen as head | 7 July - Government announces independent inquiry into the way public bodies investigated and handled child sex abuse claims. Baroness Butler-Sloss chosen as head |
9 July - Baroness Butler-Sloss faces calls to quit because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s | 9 July - Baroness Butler-Sloss faces calls to quit because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s |
14 July - She stands down, saying she is "not the right person" for the job | 14 July - She stands down, saying she is "not the right person" for the job |
5 September - Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf named the new head of the inquiry | 5 September - Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf named the new head of the inquiry |
11 October - Mrs Woolf discloses she had five dinners with Lord Brittan from 2008-12 | 11 October - Mrs Woolf discloses she had five dinners with Lord Brittan from 2008-12 |
22 October - Abuse victim launches legal challenge against Mrs Woolf leading the inquiry, amid growing calls for her resignation | 22 October - Abuse victim launches legal challenge against Mrs Woolf leading the inquiry, amid growing calls for her resignation |
31 October - Victims' groups tell government officials they are "unanimous" Mrs Woolf should quit. She steps down later that day | 31 October - Victims' groups tell government officials they are "unanimous" Mrs Woolf should quit. She steps down later that day |