An MP has criticised the “inappropriate” decision to award a damehood to Fiona Woolf, who was forced to resign as chair of the inquiry into child sex abuse.
Woolf, a prominent City lawyer and former lord mayor of London, was made a dame in the New Year honours list, just weeks after she stepped down as chair over concerns among victims of child abuse that she was too closely linked to senior politicians.
Woolf, who is already a CBE, received the damehood for services to the legal profession, diversity and the City of London.
However, Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who has led the campaign for an investigation of child abuse in Westminster circles, said it was an example of establishment figures looking after their own.
“Fiona Woolf caused unnecessary distress to victims of child abuse and caused a lengthy and avoidable delay to a very serious inquiry that urgently needs to get started.
“It seems inappropriate that she’s now being invited to Buckingham Palace to pick up one of the highest honours.
“I can think of many more worthy recipients of this honour, but once again it looks like the establishment is looking after their own.”
Woolf was the second senior figure to resign from the inquiry under pressure over her links to politicians, causing severe embarrassment for Theresa May, the home secretary.
After she was appointed, it emerged that she was a friend and neighbour of Leon Brittan, a former home secretary.
He is under scrutiny because a dossier containing accusations about Westminster paedophile activity went missing from his department during the 1980s. He denies any failure to act and there is a letter suggesting it should have been passed on to police.
