Press Association

Press Association

 
David Cameron and Gordon Brown were involved in bitter exchanges over the Baby P case

PM: Swift action on Baby P report

Gordon Brown has insisted those to blame for failures in the Baby P case should be "held accountable".

The Prime Minister pledged to act quickly when the report into the tragedy is published next month.

"It is in all our interests that where there is failure we change the system and where people are to blame for failures they are held accountable," he told MPs at question time.

In a marked change of tone from the ugly exchanges in the Commons last week, Mr Brown said there was "common ground" on the need to take action and Tory leader David Cameron thanked the Prime Minister for setting up an independent inquiry into the case.

Mr Cameron and the Prime Minister were involved in bitter exchanges across the despatch box over the death of Baby P last week.

Mr Brown accused the Conservative leader of making a "party political" point over the actions of officials at Labour-controlled Haringey Borough Council.

The 17-month-old toddler died in a blood-spattered cot on August 3 last year.

He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger despite repeated visits by the authorities.

Mr Cameron welcomed the inquiry into Haringey's actions launched last week by Children's Secretary Ed Balls.

An urgent and thorough inspection of Haringey Council by Ofsted, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary will report on December 1.

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