Overview
- The adoptive father, Jamie Varley, was given a whole-life term after a court found he sexually abused and murdered 13-month-old Preston Davey while his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, was jailed for 25 years for allowing and taking part in the abuse.
- A Change.org petition launched by the Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Post has passed 100,000 signatures and includes endorsements from Ellie Goulding, Carrie Johnson, MP Chris Webb, and Preston’s birth parents calling for a national inquiry into safeguarding failures.
- Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked independent experts to review Oldham Council, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the regional adoption agency to examine missed professional opportunities that could have protected Preston.
- The local safeguarding partnership and the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review have begun a child safeguarding practice review that was paused during the prosecution to ensure a full, high-quality examination of agency actions.
- Campaigners and politicians say the reviews could lead to legislative and policy changes under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and may determine whether a formal national inquiry is required to prevent future failures.