Blackpool MP Chris Webb to take Preston Davey case to PM 'at earliest opportunity' as 50,000 back petition
“Despite the politics of the week I will be making the case for a public inquiry at the first possibly opportunity.”
A Blackpool MP has promised to take the fight for a public inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost little Preston Davey his life to highest level ‘at the first possible opportunity’.
Chris Webb, the Member of Parliament for Blackpool South, was hoping to bring the ‘Preston Davey deserved better, Demand a nation inquiry’ petition to the attention of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today.
But before he had chance, Sir Keir announced this morning, he will quit as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Sir Keir said he wanted nominations to open on July 9 for the Labour leadership.
Labour’s rules mean getting onto the ballot can be a complex process, with candidates requiring the backing of 81 MPs, 20% of the party’s parliamentary strength.
The Prime Minister said he wanted the nomination process to be completed by the time Parliament breaks up for the summer.
This is likely to mean the parliamentary stage of the contest being completed by July 16, the last day before recess.
The Blackpool Gazette and sister title the Lancashire Post, backed by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb and Preston's birth parents Sarah Davey and Gary Nolan, are calling on the government to launch a national inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost Preston his life.
So far more than 50,000 have signed the petition.
Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry
Mr Webb said: “The outpouring of support for a public inquiry into the tragic murder of Preston Davey has been overwhelming.
“Our local community and beyond feel strongly that the safeguarding failures surrounding Preston’s death must be investigated.
“We owe it to him and every vulnerable child in this country to establish exactly what went wrong and what must change to ensure this never happens again.
“Despite the politics of the week I will be making the case for a public inquiry at the first possibly opportunity.”
Preston Davey was 13-months-old when he was murdered by the man who was in the process of adopting him. The man he came to know as ‘dad’.
In less than four months, little Preston was sexually assaulted, physically and emotional abused, and left with 40 non-accidential injuries. He was taken to hospital three times. Social workers visited regularly. His abusers even admitted to having dark thoughts about him. And still, nothing stopped it.
Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life sentence for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston. His now ex-partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.
But the question that has to be asked - and answered - is how a baby boy in the care of the state could be so badly let down by every system designed to protect him.
Preston Davey deserved better.
Vanessa Sims, Blackpool Gazette editor said: “The huge public response to our petition shows the strength of feeling the Fylde coast community and wider has towards what happened to little Preston Davey.
“We must make sure no other defenceless child has to suffer like he did.
“We believe an independent inquiry is the best way of ensuring lessons are learnt.
“If you haven’t already add your voice to the campaign.”
The call for a nation inquiry has been backed by Preston’s birth family.
Sarah Davey, Preston’s birth mum, said: “A public inquiry would mean everything to us.
“The safeguarding put in place for Preston was clearly not enough. It was a tick box exercise.
“I stand with The Gazette in calling for a national inquiry to ensure lessons are learned after what happened to Preston.”
Gary Nolan, Preston’s birth dad said: “We need to ensure this doesn’t happen to any other child in the future. We also need to know it hasn’t happened again since Preston’s death.
“I fully back The Gazette’s campaign for a national inquiry.”
What is the petition calling for?
The petiton is calling on a nation inquiry to answer the following questions:
- Why were repeated warning signs - three hospital admissions, an abuser's own admission of dark thoughts, routine social worker contact - not acted on?
- Should children placed outside their home authority automatically be assigned a local social worker with direct oversight of their care?
- How are repeat hospital admissions for children in care shared between the NHS, the placing authority, and the authority where the child lives?
- Are adoption vetting procedures rigorous enough to stop prospective adopters hiding behind a false front?
We need you to sign this petition and demand the government acts.
Every child who comes after Preston deserves better too.