PCC Shaun Wright resigns from Labour over Rotherham abuse scandal

Shaun Wright, the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) accused of failing to act on the mounting evidence of child abuse in Rotherham, has resigned from the Labour Party. However, he has not left his post as commissioner.

Wright, who was responsible for child services on Rotherham Council, faced calls from Labour to leave his post and the Party was expected to suspend him as a member today if he still remained.

There is no process in place to remove a PCC from their £85,000 a year role. Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey last night told Newsnight that he would like to see powers introduced for the Government to remove a PCC, while John Mann will today write to the Home Secretary calling for Wright to be investigated by the police for misconduct.

Shaun Wright announced his party resignation in a statement last night:

“I formally tender my resignation from the Labour Party. However, I remain committed to, and intend to remain in, my role as an Independent Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire.

“I entered into public service over twenty years ago to make a positive difference. Protecting vulnerable people has been my number one priority as Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire. I have had to make the difficult decision to stand down from the Labour Party and it’s with deep regret that I’ve come to that decision.

“I’ve dedicated my career and life to serving the public of South Yorkshire. As a father, and a citizen of South Yorkshire, my thoughts are with the victims and their families and I reiterate my apology to them and take full responsibility for my part in the collective failures which took place at Rotherham Council during the time I was in office and indeed to that end I resigned in 2010.

“I stand by my earlier comments that I’ve taken that experience to deliver a major transformation in the way South Yorkshire Police deals with horrific crimes such as child sexual exploitation, and much progress has been made since I was elected as Commissioner in terms of supporting victims, taking preventive action, increasing awareness of the issue and bringing criminals to justice. I was elected to deliver the people’s policing and crime priorities in South Yorkshire and I intend to see that duty through by leading the force on that urgent, and fundamental, journey of improvement for the sake of past, present and potential victims, who are the most important people in all of this.”

On Radio 5 Live this morning, Labour MP Simon Danczuk said that from his experience there were many cases where communities around the abusers, and even those from welfare services, believed that abused children had been “prostitutes”. Former Director for Public Prosecutions (and now candidate for Labour selection in Holborn and St Pancras) Keir Starmer, told Radio 4’s Today programme that a “culture of disbelief” still exists around child abuse cases.