High-profile mothers, including Carrie Johnson, wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, singer Ellie Goulding, and Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanding a national public inquiry into the death of toddler Preston Davey. They are among nearly 100,000 signatories to a petition urging a "thorough and transparent" investigation into what they describe as a "heartbreaking" series of missed opportunities to protect the child.
The letter follows the sentencing of Jamie Varley, 37, who was ordered to serve life in prison for the sexual abuse and murder of 13-month-old Preston. Varley's partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, received a 25-year sentence for allowing Preston's death and participating in the abuse. Preston had been taken from his birth mother at five days old and was in the process of being adopted by Varley.
Evidence presented in court indicated multiple warning signs in the weeks leading up to Preston's death on July 27, 2023. The toddler was taken to the hospital three times, including incidents involving suspicious bruises and a broken elbow. Varley had also confided in a colleague about having "dark thoughts" of harming the child. Despite being seen by numerous professionals and police involvement, no alarm was raised before his murder.
Campaigners argue that a local safeguarding review is insufficient and that only a national inquiry with the power to compel witnesses can address fears of nationwide weaknesses in child protection. Key concerns they wish to see addressed include the process of adoption vetting, the sharing of information between agencies when children in care are admitted to hospitals multiple times, and the coordination of services between different local authorities, as social services in Blackpool were not monitoring Preston despite him being in their area.
In their letter, the signatories stated, "The question that confronts us now is simple: how could this happen?" They expressed horror at the circumstances of Preston's short life and tragic death, emphasizing that "Preston Davey was a little boy who should be alive today." They are calling for the inquiry to examine warning signs, how concerns were recorded and acted upon, inter-agency communication, adherence to safeguarding procedures, systemic failures, and whether similar issues exist elsewhere in the country. "This is not about blame for its own sake. It is about accountability and ensuring that vulnerable children are better protected in future," the letter reads.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, also a signatory, stated that Preston was "failed by every safeguard that should have protected him" and that "lessons must be learned properly and no child should ever be let down in this way again."
Blackpool South Labour MP Chris Webb, who is backing the petition, indicated that the Prime Minister has agreed to discuss the matter with him. He stressed the necessity of a "full statutory national public inquiry" to establish what went wrong and what changes are needed to prevent future tragedies.
A government spokesperson responded by highlighting "the most far-reaching child protection reforms in a generation" and the introduction of a new Child Protection Authority. They also stated that an independent review has been commissioned by local authorities, with the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel involved in investigating the case. Campaigners, however, maintain that a statutory national inquiry is essential to ensure wider systemic failures are addressed and to restore public confidence in child protection systems.