'Cover-up' claims over Blair minister suspected of abusing children at home run by paedophile

The suspect was implicated in a child abuse investigation in 1998

Soon after case was dropped and detective in charge was disciplined

Two former social services employees now claim it was covered up



Allegations that one of Tony Blair's ministers was involved in a child sex ring were covered up after he was accused of abusing children at a home run by a paedophile , it was claimed today.

The suspect was allegedly implicated in a 16-month investigation into attacks believed to have taken place at a private flat inside the children's home in Brixton, south London, in the early 1980s.

The Angell Road children's home was run by convicted paedophile Michael John Carroll, who was arrested in 1998 and convicted of a string of child sex attacks dating back three decades.

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Suspicions: Ex-Lambeth social services employees say they suspect a cover-up involving a former Labour minister. (Lambeth Town Hall, pictured left). Paedophile Michael John Carroll (right) ran the children's home



But the inquiry into alleged attacks at the home was halted soon after an ex-social services boss told police of alleged early evening visits by a Labour politician, believed to be a minister.

The Daily Mirror reported Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll was taken off the case and faced disciplinary proceedings for ­allegedly naming the MP among the suspects.

He was questioned under caution by Met Police officers and removed from Lambeth borough force before the disciplinary proceedings were later dropped.

Tony Blair was Prime Minister at the time of the alleged offences

Two former social services employees who were involved in the case have now revealed they suspect the minister's involvement was covered up.

One, a former manager who alerted police in 1998, told the Mirror: 'One wonders why Scotland Yard would be so desperate to stop it being investigated.

'I believe it was stopped because somebody in power was trying to prevent any further investigation into the politician.'



Former Lambeth council child protection chief Dr Nigel Goldie added: 'There were a lot of very senior people trying to put a lid on it. There was ­something very unfortunate about the way the whole thing was dealt with.'

The Mirror reported it has seen a Lambeth council memo that shows there was an intention to brief then Health Secretary, Frank Dobson, about the police investigation.

But Mr Dobson said he did not remember being briefed and was never told a minister in Tony Blair's government was suspected of child abuse.

Whitehall officials are now conducting a review, at Mr Dobson's request, of all documents and briefings he received from the SSI when he was Health Secretary.

It comes after claims of a cover up continued over allegations of abuse surrounding the late Liberal Democrat MP Cyril Smith.



The Lib Dems are under further pressure over Smith after even his family called for an independent inquiry into allegations he had abused boys.

Cyril Smith's abuse of young, vulnerable boys was exposed in the MP's book - Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith

In a statement, the family said they did not believe the claims against him – but would be happy to co-operate with a proper inquiry.

The intervention is uncomfortable for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has rejected calls for such a probe.