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The leader of Haringey Council George Meehan and cabinet member for children and young people Liz Santry have resigned from their posts, the council has confirmed.

The news came today after the urgent report into safeguarding in Haringey, commissioned following the failure to protect Baby P, was delivered to ministers.

Haringey council and other agencies in the London borough are awaiting further announcements by children’s secretary Ed Balls, who has promised to respond immediately.

The most extreme development would see the government take over the running of Haringey children’s services if the report by Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and the police inspectorate has identified serious failings.

The local authority has been under scrutiny since the convictions of three adults involved in the boy’s death, including his mother and stepfather.

Social workers decided against issuing care proceedings for Baby P, who was placed on the child protection register in December 2006. The 17-month-old child was found dead from multiple injuries in his cot nine months later.

Balls had already commented that the serious case review by the local safeguarding children board showed local agencies failed to follow child protection procedures.

Meanwhile a group of MPs, experts and children’s organisations have called on the prime minister to launch a long-term inquiry into how children can be prevented from growing up to become child-abusers.

The letter, published in the Guardian this morning, was signed by 19 individuals including Iain Duncan-Smith MP, the former leader of the Conservatives, and child trauma expert Bruce Perry.

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