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| Child abuse inquiry panel member accuses counsel of intimidation | Child abuse inquiry panel member accuses counsel of intimidation |
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| The chaos behind the scenes of the official inquiry into child abuse has been laid bare with accusations of bullying and silencing members as the investigation has struggled to get off the ground. | The chaos behind the scenes of the official inquiry into child abuse has been laid bare with accusations of bullying and silencing members as the investigation has struggled to get off the ground. |
| One panel member, Sharon Evans, an abuse survivor and chief executive of the Dot Com children’s charity, told MPs that the inquiry’s counsel, Ben Emmerson QC, had effectively taken it over in the absence of an appointed chairman, and been guilty of making threats and intimidating panel members. | One panel member, Sharon Evans, an abuse survivor and chief executive of the Dot Com children’s charity, told MPs that the inquiry’s counsel, Ben Emmerson QC, had effectively taken it over in the absence of an appointed chairman, and been guilty of making threats and intimidating panel members. |
| She made the accusations to the Commons home affairs select committee as the home secretary, Theresa May, considers whether to disband the independent panel and replace it with a fresh statutory inquiry. | She made the accusations to the Commons home affairs select committee as the home secretary, Theresa May, considers whether to disband the independent panel and replace it with a fresh statutory inquiry. |
| The inquiry set up in July in the wake of the Savile, Rotherham and other child sex abuse scandals still has no chairman after the home secretary’s first two nominees were both forced to step down because of their connections to the establishment. | The inquiry set up in July in the wake of the Savile, Rotherham and other child sex abuse scandals still has no chairman after the home secretary’s first two nominees were both forced to step down because of their connections to the establishment. |
| Evans was giving MPs an update on the progress of the inquiry along with other inquiry members, Drussilla Sharpling, Prof Jenny Pearce and an adviser, Prof Alexis Jay who wrote the report revealing that there were 1,400 child sex abuse victims over 16 years in the Rotherham area. | Evans was giving MPs an update on the progress of the inquiry along with other inquiry members, Drussilla Sharpling, Prof Jenny Pearce and an adviser, Prof Alexis Jay who wrote the report revealing that there were 1,400 child sex abuse victims over 16 years in the Rotherham area. |
| Evans told the MPs that even before their Commons hearing on Tuesday afternoon there had been an attempt by the inquiry secretariat to ensure that panel members didn’t voice any internal criticism. “I feel that I was told today that we must speak with a collective voice. I feel that would prevent me from answering your questions honestly.” | Evans told the MPs that even before their Commons hearing on Tuesday afternoon there had been an attempt by the inquiry secretariat to ensure that panel members didn’t voice any internal criticism. “I feel that I was told today that we must speak with a collective voice. I feel that would prevent me from answering your questions honestly.” |
| She also claimed he had insisted a letter she wanted to send the home secretary be rewritten before it was despatched and complained that he was preventing panel members responding publicly to allegations about their conduct. | She also claimed he had insisted a letter she wanted to send the home secretary be rewritten before it was despatched and complained that he was preventing panel members responding publicly to allegations about their conduct. |
| The committee chairman, Keith Vaz, said he shared her concern and warned panel members they would be in contempt of parliament if they did not reply honestly to their questions. He also said the committee would ask Emmerson to respond to Evans’s accusations. | The committee chairman, Keith Vaz, said he shared her concern and warned panel members they would be in contempt of parliament if they did not reply honestly to their questions. He also said the committee would ask Emmerson to respond to Evans’s accusations. |
| Two other panel members, Pearce and Sharpling, expressed greater confidence in the running of the inquiry but agreed that a new chairman and statutory powers were essential for its work to continue. | Two other panel members, Pearce and Sharpling, expressed greater confidence in the running of the inquiry but agreed that a new chairman and statutory powers were essential for its work to continue. |
| Jay said that there was a strong public perception that the independent panel was not focused or well-led. | Jay said that there was a strong public perception that the independent panel was not focused or well-led. |
| Sharpling said they had to postpone a Birmingham “listening event” until March because they were not in a position to answer questions about their future. | Sharpling said they had to postpone a Birmingham “listening event” until March because they were not in a position to answer questions about their future. |
| Outside the committee hearing on Tuesday the Home Office said there is an ongoing investigation into the behaviour of two members of the panel. The investigation began after complaints from an abuse survivor, Andrew Lavery, that he had been sent threatening emails from Graham Wilmer, a panel member who is also a survivor of child abuse. | Outside the committee hearing on Tuesday the Home Office said there is an ongoing investigation into the behaviour of two members of the panel. The investigation began after complaints from an abuse survivor, Andrew Lavery, that he had been sent threatening emails from Graham Wilmer, a panel member who is also a survivor of child abuse. |
| There are also complaints about panel member Barbara Hearn over her communications with Peter McKelvie, a former child protection manager whose allegations led to the launch of the ongoing police inquiry Operation Fernbridge. | There are also complaints about panel member Barbara Hearn over her communications with Peter McKelvie, a former child protection manager whose allegations led to the launch of the ongoing police inquiry Operation Fernbridge. |
| The Home Office said it was taking legal advice on the complaints and the investigation was continuing. | The Home Office said it was taking legal advice on the complaints and the investigation was continuing. |
| A statement from the panel said: “The panel has full confidence in the integrity, advice and impartiality of counsel to the inquiry. We accept the advice provided was robust but do not accept any statements about bullying. We reject any suggestion that the panel has been intimidated.” |