It’s been a busy 48 hours for Home Secretary Theresa May and the Child Abuse Inquiry.
May responded to an Urgent Question asked by Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in the House of Commons today, on the child abuse inquiry and its delay. The full transcript of the meeting in the House can be read here.
Points of note at the meeting included May promising to appoint a Chair for the Inquiry by the end of next week, the discovery of a file entitled “unnatural sexual proclivities” a redacted version of which will be made public shortly (if it is not a duplicate of a pre-existing file which May suspects it might be), the cancellation of several survivor meetings whilst the Home Secretary contemplates the fate of the Inquiry and a promise by May that she would decide once and for all, and before the end of January, what form the Inquiry should take and what to do with the current panel members.
There are 150 names on the candidates for Chair list, who have apparently all been background checked, but the final selection will be made with the approval of survivors.
May is also currently proposing three options in relation to form, for the Inquiry: One is to set up a royal commission, another is to start again and reset it as a statutory inquiry, and another is to await the appointment of the chairman and continue on with the current panel, but with statutory inquiry powers.
Still, internal conflicts within the Inquiry continue. The latest member to be criticised for his approach towards survivors, and the Inquiry in general is legal counsel for the Group, Ben Emmerson QC. Panel member Sharon Evans has accused Emmerson of intimidation and bully tac tics as well as a need to dominate and manage the inquiry. The remaining panel members appear to be supporting Emmerson, who says Evans’ allegations are unfounded.
Meanwhile, another Downing Street file listed in the National Archives catalogue as “Security – allegations against former public [missing word] of unnatural sexual proclivities; security aspects 1980 Oct 27 – 1981 Mar 20.” has come to light. This material will be made available to the panel members in due course – whoever they may be.
It’s a sorry state of affairs. An inquiry of this kind requires dignity, discipline and diplomacy in all things. It also requires compassion, consideration and a rather large dose of team spirit. The current panel is sadly lacking.
Researching Reform 
Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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So there is a possible duplicate of this file but for the three previous dossiers from three different inquiries there has never been a suggestion of duplicates! Seems odd when the mantra of governments has always been “in triplicate!”
With Leon Britton dead information he knew may have died with him-unless he too did everything in triplicate! The police should have copies too, also in triplicate!
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I don’t disagree with your closing comments but it needs to be remembered that it will take very tough minded committee members to get to the bottom of these matters. They may face official reluctance to face up to deficiencies in how public figures and bodies have dealt with victims in the past. They will need to have the personal qualities to drive through any such reluctance and get to the heart of the issue. Such qualities do not always mean that tact is high on the list. I don’t know Mr. Emmerson QC and have never had any dealings with him. However, victims need to prioritise his intellectual capabilities, devotion to justice and ruthlessness to deliver it. Being nice to people ranks after that.
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Hi Jonathan, I take your points, but I think the panel members will need to treat each other with respect as they go through this process – the efficiency of this inquiry depends upon it. Whether we like it or not, the panel will be made up of people who all have different temperaments and may be total strangers to one another. Being able to navigate all of that requires intelligence and diplomacy, which I’m sure Ben has, but sensitivity is key in an inquiry like this. Panel members need to be able to sort out their own internal conflicts quickly and without allowing them to become the focus of the inquiry. That’s just not on.
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