This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/31/criticism-fiona-woolf-damehood-unfair-butler-sloss

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Criticism of Fiona Woolf damehood unfair, says inquiry predecessor Criticism of Fiona Woolf damehood unfair, says inquiry predecessor
(about 4 hours later)
Criticism of the honour awarded to the lawyer forced to resign as chair of the government’s child sexual abuse inquiry is unfair, her predecessor has said.Criticism of the honour awarded to the lawyer forced to resign as chair of the government’s child sexual abuse inquiry is unfair, her predecessor has said.
Fiona Woolf, who has been made a dame in the New Year honours list, was the second senior legal figure to quit as chair over her links to the Westminster political establishment.Fiona Woolf, who has been made a dame in the New Year honours list, was the second senior legal figure to quit as chair over her links to the Westminster political establishment.
Her resignation, just months after that of retired judge Lady Elizabeth Butler-Sloss over similar concerns, has thrown the government’s stalled inquiry into crisis. Her resignation, just months after that of retired judge Lady Butler-Sloss over similar concerns, has thrown the government’s stalled inquiry into crisis.
Butler-Sloss said criticism of the damehood awarded to Woolf was unfair because it was in recognition of her term as lord mayor of London.Butler-Sloss said criticism of the damehood awarded to Woolf was unfair because it was in recognition of her term as lord mayor of London.
Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale who has led the campaign for an investigation of alleged child abuse in Westminster circles, said the decision to make the award was inappropriate and an example of establishment figures looking after their own.Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale who has led the campaign for an investigation of alleged child abuse in Westminster circles, said the decision to make the award was inappropriate and an example of establishment figures looking after their own.
“Fiona Woolf caused unnecessary distress to victims of child abuse and caused a lengthy and avoidable delay to a very serious inquiry that urgently needs to get started,” he said.“Fiona Woolf caused unnecessary distress to victims of child abuse and caused a lengthy and avoidable delay to a very serious inquiry that urgently needs to get started,” he said.
“It seems inappropriate that she’s now being invited to Buckingham Palace to pick up one of the highest honours. I can think of many more worthy recipients of this honour, but once again it looks like the establishment is looking after their own.”“It seems inappropriate that she’s now being invited to Buckingham Palace to pick up one of the highest honours. I can think of many more worthy recipients of this honour, but once again it looks like the establishment is looking after their own.”
Woolf, who is already a CBE, received the damehood for services to the legal profession, diversity and the City of London.Woolf, who is already a CBE, received the damehood for services to the legal profession, diversity and the City of London.
Butler-Sloss blamed the Home Office for failing to perform proper checks on Woolf’s links to the former home secretary Lord Leon Brittan. Butler-Sloss blamed the Home Office for failing to perform proper checks on Woolf’s links to the former home secretary Lord Brittan.
Butler-Sloss, who stood down from her role on the inquiry panel in July because her late brother Sir Michael Havers was attorney general in the 1980s, was speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme in her role as guest editor.Butler-Sloss, who stood down from her role on the inquiry panel in July because her late brother Sir Michael Havers was attorney general in the 1980s, was speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme in her role as guest editor.
Defending the decision to award the honour, she said: “[Woolf] was lord mayor of London, she is only the second woman ever to be lord mayor of London. The very least that the honours system could do would be to honour a woman who has got such a distinguished post.Defending the decision to award the honour, she said: “[Woolf] was lord mayor of London, she is only the second woman ever to be lord mayor of London. The very least that the honours system could do would be to honour a woman who has got such a distinguished post.
“Unfortunately she had, like myself, a brief period where she had agreed – for goodness sake, she had agreed to do a very disagreeable job to become chairman. And because she happened to know Leon Brittan, she was unacceptable to the survivors and therefore she stood down.”“Unfortunately she had, like myself, a brief period where she had agreed – for goodness sake, she had agreed to do a very disagreeable job to become chairman. And because she happened to know Leon Brittan, she was unacceptable to the survivors and therefore she stood down.”
She criticised officials for failing to spot the potential difficulties the contacts with Brittan could cause.She criticised officials for failing to spot the potential difficulties the contacts with Brittan could cause.
“I don’t know what happened. There was discussion between her and, presumably, the Home Office. I think they made a mistake in not doing sufficient due diligence, actually.“I don’t know what happened. There was discussion between her and, presumably, the Home Office. I think they made a mistake in not doing sufficient due diligence, actually.
“But the fact is she is a very distinguished woman, she did a wonderful year’s job as lord mayor and of course she gets an honour for it, that’s why she gets it. To put if off to another time would be a reflection on the City of London.”“But the fact is she is a very distinguished woman, she did a wonderful year’s job as lord mayor and of course she gets an honour for it, that’s why she gets it. To put if off to another time would be a reflection on the City of London.”
Woolf was a friend and neighbour of Brittan, who is under scrutiny because a dossier containing accusations about Westminster paedophile activity went missing from his department during the 1980s. He denies any failure to act and there is a letter suggesting it should have been passed on to police. Woolf was a friend and neighbour of Brittan, who is under scrutiny because a dossier containing accusations about Westminster paedophile activity went missing from his department during the 1980s. He denies any failure to act.