Angela
Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on
reports that the Government is set to accept Labour amendments on the Children
and Social Work Bill, said:
“With the
Bill back in the Commons next Tuesday, the Government must urgently clarify its
position. If ministers are giving in to Labour’s demands to abandon this
dangerous proposal and accept our amendments, then that is good news for
vulnerable children across the country.
“We need to
learn the lessons from the terrible tragedies of the past. The protections that
were recommended after the appalling cases of Victoria Climbie and Baby P need
to be enforced, not weakened. There is nothing ‘innovative’ about allowing
councils to ‘opt out’ of such basic requirements.
“These
proposals should never have been made in the first place, and we will fight
until they are removed.”