Ex-Judge Leading Inquiry Into Child Abuse in Britain Steps Down
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Version 0 of 1. LONDON — Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, a former senior judge asked to lead an inquiry into child abuse allegations in Britain, stepped down from the job on Monday, citing concerns of a conflict of interest because her brother, Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s. In a statement, Ms. Butler-Sloss said there was a widespread perception, including among victim groups, that she was not the right person to lead the inquiry, which was set up partly in response to claims of a possible cover-up involving establishment figures. “It has also become clear to me that I did not sufficiently consider whether my background and the fact my brother had been attorney general would cause difficulties,” added Ms. Butler-Sloss, a distinguished legal figure who served as coroner in the inquest into the death of Diana, the princess of Wales. The government announced the appointment only last week, and the office of Prime Minister David Cameron said the decision was taken by Ms. Butler-Sloss. “This inquiry now has no chair and no terms of reference, and there is considerable confusion over what it will be able to cover,” said Yvette Cooper, the main spokeswoman on home affairs for the opposition Labour Party. |