Professionals divided over minister’s future

Delegates at a conference where Hodge was speaking this week were
divided over whether she should resign. However, most felt it had
damaged her credibility.

Terry Martin, from the educational social enterprise Norir, said:
“She’s probably got a lot of good qualities but it’s a bad start
for a new ministerial post.”

Eileen Allen, a learning support assistant working with young
offenders, felt Hodge had handled the whole situation wrongly. “I
can’t believe she actually wrote that. To say that about him she
hasn’t got the feel for children and I think she has lost
credibility.”

In contrast, the major charities and the Association of Directors
of Social Services refused to say whether she should resign,
although the British Association of Social Workers said the
incident called into question her suitability for her position in
the government.

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