Head of parliamentary group for children in care criticised for “disgusting” Jimmy Savile tweet

The former chair of the all-party parliamentary group for looked after children and care leavers has been criticised for tweeting a reference to the abuse perpetrated by Jimmy Savile.

Craig Whittaker, the Conservative candidate for Calder Valley who chaired the group representing the views of young people in care until parliament dissolved in March, was branded “disgraceful” after he tweeted the headline of a Daily Mail column, which said it would be safer to let Jimmy Savile babysit than trust the Labour party.

The Who Cares? Trust, which represents care leavers and young people in care, said it was “extremely disappointed” by the tweet. Other Twitter users called for Whittaker to explain himself, apologise or even resign.

Savile was revealed to have committed many acts of sexual abuse against vulnerable children, including those in local authority care, and one Twitter user, Grace, was angry that someone who represents a group for children could tweet a “flippant reference to child sex abuse”.

A Conservative party spokesperson declined to comment.