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Abuse inquiry head Fiona Woolf should resign, lawyer says Abuse inquiry head Fiona Woolf should resign, lawyer says
(35 minutes later)
The head of the public inquiry into historical sex abuse should step down, a lawyer representing victims has said.The head of the public inquiry into historical sex abuse should step down, a lawyer representing victims has said.
Alison Millar said Fiona Woolf lacked "credibility" among victims and had "no background" in child protection.Alison Millar said Fiona Woolf lacked "credibility" among victims and had "no background" in child protection.
On Tuesday Mrs Woolf said she had dined with Lord Brittan - home secretary in 1984 when ministers were handed a dossier on alleged high-profile paedophiles - five times since 2008.On Tuesday Mrs Woolf said she had dined with Lord Brittan - home secretary in 1984 when ministers were handed a dossier on alleged high-profile paedophiles - five times since 2008.
But abuse victim Sharon Evans said the inquiry should get on with its work.But abuse victim Sharon Evans said the inquiry should get on with its work.
Questions have been asked about Mrs Woolf's suitability for the role given that she has no experience in child protection or family law and because of her links to the former home secretary.Questions have been asked about Mrs Woolf's suitability for the role given that she has no experience in child protection or family law and because of her links to the former home secretary.
Ms Millar, of law firm Leigh Day, said: "This is not really about Fiona Woolf's ability or her integrity, this is about her independence and her ability to lead this inquiry in a way that is credible to the survivors of abuse."Ms Millar, of law firm Leigh Day, said: "This is not really about Fiona Woolf's ability or her integrity, this is about her independence and her ability to lead this inquiry in a way that is credible to the survivors of abuse."
To be a "good manager" Mrs Woolf must be seen an independent, Ms Millar told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. To be a "good manager" Mrs Woolf must be seen as independent, Ms Millar told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Somebody who seems to be on dinner party terms with a senior political figure whose knowledge this inquiry will be scrutinising is somebody who, from the perspective of my clients, does not have the necessary independence," she said."Somebody who seems to be on dinner party terms with a senior political figure whose knowledge this inquiry will be scrutinising is somebody who, from the perspective of my clients, does not have the necessary independence," she said.
Andy Lavery, a victim of abuse at a school in the 1980s, told BBC Radio 4's Today that he had "zero confidence" in the inquiry, suggesting it had "no investigatory powers" and Mrs Woolf appeared "weak as water" when she was questioned by MPs on Tuesday. Andy Lavery, a victim of abuse at a school in the 1980s, told Today that he had "zero confidence" in the inquiry, suggesting it had "no investigatory powers" and Mrs Woolf appeared "weak as water" when she was questioned by MPs on Tuesday.
But Sharon Evans, a member of the inquiry panel, said it had "got off to a difficult start" but she was confident it was representative, with a QC and investigator from HMIC as well as people, like herself, with personal experience of abuse.But Sharon Evans, a member of the inquiry panel, said it had "got off to a difficult start" but she was confident it was representative, with a QC and investigator from HMIC as well as people, like herself, with personal experience of abuse.
"There has been so much focus on Mrs Woolf," Ms Evans, chief of the Dotcom Children's Foundation, told Radio 4's Today. "There has been so much focus on Mrs Woolf," Ms Evans, chief of the Dotcom Children's Foundation, told Today.
"There are nine people on the panel with an enormous background and expertise in this job." "There are nine people on the panel with an enormous background and expertise in this job.
She added: "There are victims on this panel and we are determined to get to the bottom of this. The fact that we are part of this will give people confidence and we will listen" "There are victims on this panel and we are determined to get to the bottom of this. The fact that we are part of this will give people confidence and we will listen."
Mrs Woolf, a lawyer and currently Lord Mayor of London, has confirmed she lived in the same London street as Lord Brittan and had invited him and his wife to dinner on three occasions, and had two dinners at their house between 2008 and 2012.Mrs Woolf, a lawyer and currently Lord Mayor of London, has confirmed she lived in the same London street as Lord Brittan and had invited him and his wife to dinner on three occasions, and had two dinners at their house between 2008 and 2012.
She also disclosed that she sat on the advisory body of CityUK, of which Lord Brittan has also been a member, and had had a coffee with Lady Brittan on a "small number of occasions".She also disclosed that she sat on the advisory body of CityUK, of which Lord Brittan has also been a member, and had had a coffee with Lady Brittan on a "small number of occasions".
Mrs Woolf appeared before MPs on the home affairs committee on Tuesday and said she wanted to "lay to rest" speculation over links with Lord Brittan.Mrs Woolf appeared before MPs on the home affairs committee on Tuesday and said she wanted to "lay to rest" speculation over links with Lord Brittan.
She said the Conservative peer was "one of thousands of people" she knew and was not a "close associate".She said the Conservative peer was "one of thousands of people" she knew and was not a "close associate".
She added: "Let us remind ourselves that this is not an inquiry about Lord Brittan but about hundreds of institutions and frankly thousands of systemic failures."She added: "Let us remind ourselves that this is not an inquiry about Lord Brittan but about hundreds of institutions and frankly thousands of systemic failures."
'Total error''Total error'
Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who campaigned for the inquiry, told the BBC on Tuesday he thought Mrs Woolf should resign.Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who campaigned for the inquiry, told the BBC on Tuesday he thought Mrs Woolf should resign.
"I don't know what world she inhabits but where I come from if you've been to dinner at somebody's home and vice versa then you're relatively close - you'd consider them friends," he said."I don't know what world she inhabits but where I come from if you've been to dinner at somebody's home and vice versa then you're relatively close - you'd consider them friends," he said.
He accused the Home Office of a "total error of judgement".He accused the Home Office of a "total error of judgement".
Mrs Woolf was appointed after the government's original choice, Baroness Butler-Sloss, stepped down after victims' families expressed concerns about her independence.Mrs Woolf was appointed after the government's original choice, Baroness Butler-Sloss, stepped down after victims' families expressed concerns about her independence.
Her late brother Lord Havers was attorney general at the time allegations about high-profile paedophiles were passed to ministers by the late Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens.Her late brother Lord Havers was attorney general at the time allegations about high-profile paedophiles were passed to ministers by the late Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens.
The dossier was considered by Home Office officials in 1984 and handed to police but no action was taken and the information has since disappeared.The dossier was considered by Home Office officials in 1984 and handed to police but no action was taken and the information has since disappeared.
Lord Brittan has insisted that proper procedures were followed.Lord Brittan has insisted that proper procedures were followed.
Home Secretary Theresa May has outlined the terms of the inquiry, which was triggered by allegations of child sex abuse by celebrities and public figures working in the media, politics and other walks of life.Home Secretary Theresa May has outlined the terms of the inquiry, which was triggered by allegations of child sex abuse by celebrities and public figures working in the media, politics and other walks of life.
It will examine the conduct of almost all the major institutions in public life - including Parliament, the police, political parties, churches and schools - and how they responded to abuse allegations.It will examine the conduct of almost all the major institutions in public life - including Parliament, the police, political parties, churches and schools - and how they responded to abuse allegations.
Although it will not have the power to instigate criminal prosecutions, all allegations of abuse will be passed to police.Although it will not have the power to instigate criminal prosecutions, all allegations of abuse will be passed to police.
Mrs Woolf will head a panel including child abuse experts and at least one victim of abuse.Mrs Woolf will head a panel including child abuse experts and at least one victim of abuse.