Bradford West MP George Galloway has accused Bradford Council’s outgoing director of children’s services Kath Tunstall of trying to “pre-empt the Serious Case Review” into the death of Hamzah Khan.

The MP claimed that even before Hamzah’s mother, Amanda Hutton, had been sentenced yesterday, Mrs Tunstall had e-mailed him saying that “no serious concerns were reported to social services and statutory agencies” in the case.

Mr Galloway said yesterday: “Kath Tunstall’s statement this morning, seeking to absolve her department of any blame in the Hamzah Khan tragedy, is a clear attempt to pre-empt the forthcoming inquiry.”

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s executive member for children's services, responded by describing Mr Galloway’s suggestion as “ridiculous” and said information had been provided to the district’s MPs in the form of a “general briefing”.

He said last night: “It is ridiculous to suggest that a general briefing sent to MPs this morning is a ‘clear attempt to pre-empt the forthcoming enquiry’.

“We welcome the Serious Case Review and its public examination of the circumstances of Hamzah’s death. Serious case reviews lead to learning and action to make children safer, in our district and across the country.

“Until the independent serious case review report is published, and we have some factual answers to questions, it is not possible for us, or anyone else, to make accurate comment.”