Baby P: Haringey pair survive no-confidence vote

Two senior Haringey councillors have survived an attempt by opposition members to force them out of office.

Council leader George Meehan and lead member for children and young people Liz Santry faced a vote of no-confidence over the authority’s failure to protect Baby P.

In the first full council meeting since the 17-month-old boy’s mother and stepfather were convicted of causing or allowing his death, the motion was defeated by 31 votes to 23.

Neil Williams, one of 25 Liberal Democrats on the Labour-controlled authority, said the fact that Santry waited 48 hours after the convictions before apologising on behalf of the council was a matter of “regret”.

Practice failings

However, all 31 Labour councillors voted in support of Meehan and Santry.

Significant practice failings by social workers and healthcare staff were exposed in a serious case review into Baby P’s death.

An urgent joint area review into safeguarding in Haringey, ordered by the government, is due to be completed next week.

Baby P’s mother, 27, her boyfriend, 32, both of whom cannot be named, and lodger Jason Owen, 36, will be sentenced next month for causing or allowing the toddler’s death.

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