MPs to grill Solihull Council over tragic murder of six-year-old boy

The Education Committee is planning a session with representatives of Solihull Council about the killing of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

Arthur’s stepmother Emma Tustin was jailed for 29 years last week for murder and numerous child cruelty offences, while his father Thomas Hughes was given 21 years for manslaughter. A court heard how Arthur was tortured and killed by the pair after social workers found ‘no safeguarding concerns’.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has confirmed a national review into the six-year-old’s death to be led by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. The Government has separately commissioned four inspectorates, covering social care, health, the police and probation services to undertake an urgent inspection of the safeguarding agencies in Solihull to whom Arthur was known.

Mr Zahawi said last week that it was “impossible to imagine how any adult could commit such evil acts against a child”, as he provided a statement to the House of Commons following the conviction of Arthur’s father and stepmother.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said she hoped the country remembered Arthur as “the little boy with the beaming smile”.
An emotional Julian Knight, Arthur’s MP, said tragic circumstances around Arthur’s death “broke the hearts of my town”.

Representatives from Solihull Council will appear for a session before the Committee on 11th January. The Committee will separately question the Children’s Commissioner on this and other matters. Further details will be released later.

Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Education Committee, said: “The appalling murder of six-year-old Arthur raises serious and urgent questions about child safety and the role of local authority children’s services. Lockdowns and school closures since last year will have exacerbated the safeguarding risks faced by many children and this shocking killing serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of doing all we can to protect the most vulnerable.

“While the Government’s review investigates, our session will examine what went so badly wrong and what needs to urgently change – both locally and more widely – if we are to prevent such a distressing case ever happening again.”