Cameron’s Catch-22 on Abuse: How Can Establishment Investigate Itself?

By Jacquelin Magnay
The Australian
July 12, 2014

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/camerons-catch22-on-abuse-how-can-establishment-investigate-itself/story-e6frg6so-1226986105781#mm-premium

FINDING an Establishment figure who is sufficiently distant from Westminster, but with the gravitas to oversee a far-reaching investigation into political misconduct and cover-up of child abuse, is proving a headache for the British government.

Also troubling is the idea of using as a potential template Australia’s handling of widespread child-abuse claims, with its royal commission and mandatory reporting being criticised by some here.

Just how Britain responds to persistent allegations of historical child abuse and institutional cover-ups at the highest levels, ­including parliament, has been at the forefront of 10 Downing Street conversations all week.

First came the outcry about child abuse following the jailing of Rolf Harris and outpourings of his assaults on others.

Then came the revelation that 114 files from the 1980s that named Establishment pedophiles — including eight believed to be high-profile political figures — had gone missing from the government’s Home Office building.

The inability of the government to explain the loss of the files amid fears of a whitewash has triggered a maelstrom of concern and plummeting public confidence in Westminster.