Sun boss tells Community Care: We are proud of Baby P campaign

The Sun’s managing editor insists he is “proud” of his newspaper’s campaign against individual social workers involved in the Baby P case.

Responding to a letter from Community Care challenging the newspaper’s coverage of the case, Graham Dudman said it was important to “have those responsible held accountable”.

After the convictions in November of three adults for causing or allowing the 17-month-old boy’s death in Haringey, north London, The Sun singled out social workers assigned to the case and called for them to be sacked.

Inaccurate

In the letter to the editor, Rebekah Wade, we exposed the newspaper’s biased and inaccurate reporting, which placed all blame in relation to the Baby P case on the heads of the social workers. We also highlighted its failure to mention the General Social Care Council’s regulatory powers as a source of accountability for poor practice by practitioners.

Months of negative headlines now appear to be taking their toll with reports of a recruitment crisis in London boroughs. Last month a union official in Haringey said the “media witch hunt” was having a “devastating” effect on the number of candidates applying for social work jobs in the city.

Tabloid boss defiant

But the tabloid boss was defiant. In an email to Community Care, Dudman wrote: “I am sorry you believe The Sun’s campaign for justice for Baby P is irresponsible and biased.

“You are, of course, entitled to that view. Although The Sun plus the 1,500,000 people who signed our petition disagree with you.

“We are proud to have campaigned successfully to have those responsible held accountable, especially as they continue to refuse to apologise.

“I agree social work is a difficult job at the best of times but make no apologies for the way we highlighted the appalling catalogue of mistakes that led to Baby P’s death.”

Petition signatures reach 2,000

A petition posted by Community Care on the Number 10 website eight days ago, asking the Prime Minister to urge The Sun to back social work, has now attracted 2,000 signatures.

A related early day motion in Parliament has won the backing of 29 MPs.

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Read the full email

Sun editor defends Baby P campaign