Pressure mounting on PM Sir Keir Starmer as Preston Davey public inquiry call backed by 106,500 people

Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as calls for a national public inquiry into the safeguarding failures which cost little Preston Davey his life are supported by more than 106,500 people.

High-profile celebrities including Olivia Colman, David Morissey, Carrie Johnson, Ellie Goulding and Nicola Thorp joined forces with The Gazette, sister paper the Lancashire Post and Blackpool MP Chris Webb in writing to the Prime Minister calling for a national public inquiry into the 'catastrophic failure' to protect murdered baby Preston Davey.

The Gazette’s petition has so far been signed by more than 106,500 people, backed by the celebrity campaigners are calling for Sir Keir Starmer to set up a 'thorough and transparent' public national inquiry into the 'heartbreaking' series of missed opportunities to save 13-month-old Preston.

Calling for urgent action, signatories including the wife of former PM Boris Johnson Carrie Johnson, global superstar Ellie Goulding, 39, and Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, 52, say: 'The question that confronts us now is simple: how could this happen?'

The letter is also signed by Sherwood star David Morrissey, campaigner Paula Hudgell, adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell, who had both legs amputated after abuse by his birth parents as a baby as well high profile campaigner Hetti Barkwood-Nanton, Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge and Laura Trott MP Shadow Education Secretary.

Vanessa Sims, editor of the Blackpool Gazette said: “The combined voices of 106,000 people as well as those of the prominent leading campaigners backing our calls are difficult to ignore.

“This campaign is not about blame but about making sure no other child suffers the same fate as little Preston.

“As a mother-of-three I passionately feel Preston’s case must be thoroughly understood and the safeguarding failures identified so every child who comes after Preston is protected.

“Preston died in Blackpool. We must continue to fight for him as though he was one of our own.

“We vow to continue the fight for Preston so the important lessons can be learnt.”

Preston Davey deserved better

Preston Davey was just 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 emotionally abused, and left with 40 non-accidental 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.

Ex-South Shore Academy teacher 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.

His birth mother Sarah Davey, now 42, was just 14 years old when she and her friend — then known as Lisa Healey — were convicted of torturing 71-year-old widow Lily Lilley of West Street, Failsworth in 1998.

Sarah, who was in prison when she gave birth to Preston, has been released on licence numerous times since her first release in March 2013 but has been recalled for breaching the terms of her licence.

Preston was taken into care by Oldham Council and placed for adoption by regional adoption agency Adoption Now. Blackpool’s children’s services had no involvement in his safeguarding.

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.

Chris Webb, Blackpool MP said: “The public response to baby Preston’s case has been extraordinary and reflects the strength of feeling among a community, which is devastated by the loss of this little boy in such tragic circumstances.

"This campaign is about serious questions that remain unanswered about how Preston was so catastrophically failed by systems that existed to protect him.

“Preston deserved better, his family deserve answers and every vulnerable child in this country needs lessons to be learnt from this tragedy.

“I will continue working with the Blackpool Gazette, campaigners and supporters across the country until that happens."

What is the petition calling for?

The petition 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.

Join our calls for a public inquiry by signing our change.org petition here