Child abuse reforms are unveiled

Sweeping changes to protect children from abuse were finally being unveiled today after months of delay.

The measures, ordered after the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie, include a new Children's Commissioner to act as champion for youngsters at risk. The measures include ways of improving accountability between children's agencies.

But a row is raging over why the reforms were delayed for two months over the summer, apparently to spare Children's Minister Margaret Hodge from embarrassment.

A letter leaked over the weekend confirmed that today's green paper setting out the moves was ready for publication before the summer holidays. It was postponed because of the row surrounding Mrs Hodge when two former social workers revealed how she failed to take action to stop the Islington child abuse scandal.

At the time, Downing Street said the delay was because Tony Blair had decided to become involved in the launch and had no free time until now. This was the second delay blamed by insiders on attempts to improve the image of Mrs Hodge.