Minister apologises for ‘extremely disturbed’ slur
Children’s Minister Margaret Hodge has apologised to a man that she labelled ‘extremely disturbed’ in a letter to the BBC.
The BBC has been investigating abuse of children in Islington, a council that Ms Hodge led in the 80s. The issue has dogged her time as children’s minister, and she wrote to the Corporation about their discussions with victim Demetrious Panton, describing him as ‘extremely disturbed’.
Ms Hodge claims the letter was intended as a private correspondence about her concern that the BBC inquiry was part of a campaign against her. The BBC, however, publicised it on the Today Programme and Mr Panton has since threatened legal action over the slur.
Mr Panton is a Philosophy graduate and advisor to the Government on the new deal. He has been described as ‘articulate and very measured’ by police investigating his case, and Ms Hodge has written to him to apologise ‘unreservedly’.
The children’s minister also promised not to repeat such comments, in the hope that this will be enough to avoid legal action, although is unlikely to diminish the political row.
Whether or not the case is pursued against Ms Hodge, opposition MP’s will continue to call for her dismissal. These calls have been made since revelations about abuse in her time as Islington Council leader surfaced.
Ms Hodge is accused of failing to act on warnings about child abuse while council leader, though she strongly denies that this is true.
The prime minister has continued to back Ms Hodge on the grounds of her past success as a minister. She has also suggested that her experiences make her well placed to deal with strengthening of child protection, a significant part of her brief.
