A Bradford MP tackled the Education Minister yesterday on the Children’s Safeguarding Board report into the death of Hamzah Khan.

David Ward (Lib Dem, Bradford East) asked Edward Timpson MP whether he believed that the report by the Bradford Board was a “whitewash”.

Mr Timpson was also asked why the Department for Education did not contact the Board about any concerns that they had regarding the report before it was officially published.

Mr Ward said: “I’m pleased that the Minister has distanced himself from comments that the Children’s Safeguarding Board report into the death of little Hamzah Khan was a ‘whitewash’. What I’m most disappointed with once again is the conduct of the Department for Education. The Department was in contact with the Safeguarding Board throughout the review process, with the Minister also confirming that they had read the report before it was published. If there had been any concerns with the report, these should have been made before publication.

“By waiting and leaking the Department’s letter to Bradford’s Safeguarding Board just before the Board had officially reported, smacks of political posturing.”