All about Margaret Hodge

A selection of quotes on Margaret Hodge…

“I have the impression she’s not able to hear about serious child abuse.  She seems to shut down and there is the sense that she can’t even hear it.  It’s come up again and again.  When she described children in care as ‘disruptive and difficult’ – those aren’t terms we ever use.  We’re not into pathologising children and that’s what you do when you don’t listen.  You define them out of existence.”

 
Liz Davies, former senior social worker.  Talking about Margaret Hodge’s handling of a catalogue of abuse at childrens’ homes in Islington, North London.  Hodge was the Islington council leader between 1982-92.  The abuse was exposed by the London Evening Standard in October 1992. Source:-  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/nov/21/childrensservices.schools

“The story broke at the end of her leadership on the council. She was looking to be an MP and I personally don’t think she was interested.”

Chris Goodhall.  Assistant Editor, Islington Gazette. Talking about Margaret Hodge’s reaction to the Islington sex abuse scandal. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/nov/21/childrensservices.schools

“Two senior frontline social workers are now prepared to blow the whistle publicly; they say that Hodge failed in 1990 to take their warnings seriously and refused to give them extra staff and money to conduct further investigations. They now say they continued to submit warning reports that their superiors, and Hodge, did not take seriously.”

Minette Marrin,  Sunday Times columnist.  Writing about about Margaret Hodge’s reaction to the Islington sex abuse scandal. http://www.minettemarrin.com/minettemarrin/2003/07/h_is_for_hypocr.html

“You felt she was a lady seeking power. She never had to do a day’s work in her life.  She was a leftwinger with an Islington town house and cottage in Norfolk. And while she was leading the revolution, she was advertising for a nanny in the Lady“.

David Hyams, councilor Islington Borough Council (1974 -1990).  Talking about Margaret Hodge.   http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/nov/21/childrensservices.schools

Editors note: Whilst Hodge probably never had to work she did at one point work for Unilever and the British Market Research Bureau prior to having children.

“Of course, for much of her life Hodge was indeed a diehard old leftist; in her time as leader of the notorious and loony left Islington council (1982-1992) she sported a bust of Lenin and flew the red flag over the town hall.”

Minette Marrin,  Sunday Times columnist.  Writing about former ‘ lunatic leftist’, Margaret Hodge. http://www.minettemarrin.com/minettemarrin/2003/07/h_is_for_hypocr.html

“Margaret is a tue daughter of her family. She likes power, she likes to be the boss, to tell people what to do. It is the same facination with power which I believe explains her involvement in politics.”

First husband Andrew Watson, Daily Mail, May 8, 1983.

“My colleague David Cofie had presented powerful evidence to Hodge of sexual abuse in Islington. She wanted to slap him down and she told us that it was all malicious rumour and that it didn’t happen. But I – and others – knew that it did.”

 Social Worker, Islington Borough Council

 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-7710095-new-social-worker-condemns-hodge.do

“If you see someone doing wrong, and you allow that person to get away with it, then you are as guilty as the people who did the crimes themselves.”

“That is why Hodge – who tried to sweep it under the carpet when it was brought to her attention – must be held accountable. She needs to feel our pain, hear our anger. She needs to stop thinking like a politician and behave like a human being. People’s lives have been ruined.”

Yvonne Williams, sexually abused almost every day from the ages of 10 – 16, whilst in the care of Islington Borough Council.

 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-7710095-new-social-worker-condemns-hodge.do

 “I hold Hodge directly responsible for the abuse I suffered.”

 “My brother, Michael, was sexually abused in care before me, and if Hodge had listened to the social workers he complained to, then there is every likelihood that I would never have been abused. I will not rest until I get justice.”

 Douglas Fitch, sexually abused whilst in the care of Islington Borough Council.

 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-7710095-new-social-worker-condemns-hodge.do