REPORT RENEWS CRITICISM OF SENIOR FIGURES INVOLVED IN VICTORIA CLIMBIE CASE

30.6.03

Liberal Democrats in Haringey have renewed their call for resignations of senior managers and politicians involved in the tragic death of Victoria Climbie. The development follows renewed criticisms of senior figures in a report by the Health Select Committee in Parliament.

The Lib Dems argue that junior staff have been left to carry the can whilst politicians and senior managers have held onto their posts or gone on to better paid jobs. Mary Richardson the Director of Social Services at the time of Victoria's death went on to be a director in a neighbouring borough as did Carol Wilson, an Assistant Director who followed a similar path.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Ron Aitken comments:

"The Select Committee have once again highlighted the fact that those in charge failed to take any responsibility for what happened to Victoria Climbie, letting overworked junior staff take the blame.

"This further criticism from Lord Laming underlines the need for senior politicians and managers involved in Victoria's death to examine their consciences and resign".

Note- Health Select Committee report into Victoria Climbie Inquiry - Paragraph 38:

"The Inquiry Report highlighted the apparent failure of those in senior positions to understand, or accept, that they were responsible for the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of local services. Indeed, Lord Laming pointed to the 'yawning gap' in the differing perceptions of the organisation held by front line staff and senior managers. Lord Laming was unequivocal that the failure was the fault of managers whose job it should have been to understand what was happening at their 'front door.' As the Report pointed out, some of those in the most senior positions used the defence "no one ever told me" to distance themselves from responsibility, and to argue that there was nothing they could have done. This was not a view shared by Lord Laming, nor is it our view."

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