PETITION FOR INQUIRY INTO TODDLER'S DEATH EXCEEDS 100,000 SIGNATURES

A petition calling for a national inquiry into the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey has exceeded 100,000 signatures. The petition, launched by the Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Post on change.org, demands "a national inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost Preston his life". Preston was sexually abused and murdered by his adoptive father, Jamie Varley, a former secondary school teacher. Varley inflicted "unremitting abuse" before a final fatal sexual assault, according to evidence heard at Preston Crown Court. Varley received a whole life term with no possibility of parole, whilst his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years for allowing and participating in the abuse.

The petition has been backed by public figures including singer Ellie Goulding and Carrie Johnson, wife of former prime minister Boris Johnson, as well as Blackpool South MP Chris Webb and Preston's birth parents Sarah Davey and Gary Nolan. The petition was launched on 18 June. Mr Webb stated that each signature represents "a signal to the government that the public wants answers about what happened to Preston Davey". Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson responded to calls for an inquiry during parliamentary debate last week, pledging to do "everything within our power" to prevent another child facing the same fate.

Ms Phillipson committed to rolling out new safeguards in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 by March. She told MPs the government takes the case "extremely seriously" and confirmed that independent experts have been asked to examine Oldham Council, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the regional adoption agency. She added: "It is right that the evil abusers that committed these sickening and shocking crimes are now behind bars."