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EXPRESS COMMENT

ED BALLS CANNOT TAKE HIGH GROUND ON BABY P FIASCO

Tuesday December 2,2008

CHILDREN’S Secretary Ed Balls had plenty to say about the tragic case of Baby P yesterday.

After describing a report into Haringey social services as “devastating”, he was quick to boast about taking action to
remove the borough’s head of children’s services, Sharon Shoesmith.

But Ms Shoesmith has not been sacked, only suspended on full pay – presumably until a financial settlement is offered to her that she finds acceptable.

And nobody should forget that this is the same Mr Balls who was proposing to do precisely nothing about the case until David Cameron raised it in the Commons.

Only then did he order an independent report. Ever since, he has given the impression that his every waking hour
has been devoted to keeping himself out of the line of fire.

Following the death of a child who was known to be at risk and who suffered multiple injuries during his 17-month life
– some of which required hospital treatment – it would be a travesty if Ms Shoesmith received a penny in compensation for losing her job.

And just as Ms Shoesmith was unforgivably complacent in her job, so has Mr Balls been in his. Initially, he relied on an internal council whitewash.

Only when the extent of public outrage became clear did he change his position. If Ms Shoesmith is an unworthy head
of children’s services, then Mr Balls is an unworthy Children’s Secretary.