Theresa May scraps ‘dangerous’ child protection reforms launched just one year ago by David Cameron
The controversial plans to allow councils to opt-out of statutory laws have now been scrapped
THERESA MAY has dumped “dangerous” child protection reforms launched in a fanfare by David Cameron just one year ago.
Education chiefs quietly scrapped controversial plans to allow councils to opt-out of statutory laws – and trial their own ways of working with families – just before 11pm on Thursday night.
The move was widely welcomed yesterday by charities and Lord Laming – the crossbench peer who led investigations into the deaths of Victoria Climbie and Baby P.
But Labour celebrated an “unprecedented climbdown” after the Education Secretary Justine Greening confirmed the u-turn by signing EIGHT of their amendments to the Children and Social Work Bill that was due to go before the Commons.
Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “These dangerous proposals should never have been made in the first place, so it’s good news that the Government has now agreed to our demand that they be abandoned.”
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She boasted the Department for Education was in “disarray” and branded the change of plan “humiliating”.
The Lib Dems accused the Government of “sneaking out” a massive u-turn on a key part of David Cameron’s legacy.
A spokesman said: “They did this without scrutiny or even coming to Parliament. Shame on them.”
David Cameron unveiled plans for “academy-style” freedoms that would have allowed councils to innovate on frontline children’s services.
Former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan a year ago said the reforms were “big and bold”.
Tory former children’s minister Tim Loughton said the proposals had been a “step too far” and “threatened safeguarding duties to vulnerable children enshrined in primary and secondary legislation”.