Commissioner on Home Office panel

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright appearing in front of the Home Affairs Select Committee at the House of Commons, London where he answered questions regarding his knowledge of the Rotherham child abuse scandal

The South Yorkshire Police commissioner, who has refused to resign his job following the Jay report, nominated himself to the panel last year.

The Home Office has insisted Mr Wright was recommended to them by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, but the revelation is bound to force questions over what checks Theresa May’s department made before the appointment.

Mr Wright was head of children’s services at Rotherham Council while large numbers of children were being abused by mostly Asian men. The recent report into the scandal found the council ignored the abuse and was more concerned with political correctness than safeguarding vulnerable children.

All three main party leaders have called for Mr Wright to resign, and Labour has expelled the former councillor from the party.

Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said: “Mr Wright was nominated by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to be the Labour Party representative on the Sexual Violence Against Children and Vulnerable People National Group. He is no longer a Labour PCC.”I understand the APCC are meeting on 25 September to discuss their new structure to support national groups. This discussion will include future representation on the Sexual Violence National Group”.