Theresa May is urged to hold a public inquiry into death of Poppi Worthington

Four MPs have written to the Prime Minister urging her to hold a public inquiry into the “manifold failings” that led to the death of Poppi Worthington.

The cross-party MPs, all from Cumbria where the 13-month-old girl died in 2012, have also set up an online petition on the Downing Street website calling for an investigation to help “make children safe” and restore public confidence in the police.

Last week an inquest coroner concluded that the girl was sexually assaulted by her father, Paul Worthington, just hours before she suffocated in “unsafe sleeping conditions” in his double bed.

David Roberts, senior coroner for Cumbria, also said there had been “very significant failings” by Cumbria police in their handling of the case. Prosecutors refused three times to put Mr Worthington on trial, and police bluders could mean he is never prosecuted. Mr Worthington, 49, who has always maintained his innocence, is currently in police protection.

The MPs’ letter, signed by John Woodcock, Trudy Harrison, Tim Farron and Sue Hayman, claims that only a public inquiry can ensure that confidence is restored in the police and child protection services.

It says that the coroner’s “bombshell verdict” into Poppi’s death has ”heightened a crisis in public confidence in the vital public services that work to keep children safe.”

It urges Theresa May to hold an inquiry to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated, adding: “You can make other vulnerable children safer by launching a public inquiry to examine how so many warning signs that Poppi could be in danger were missed, and how they could be missed again.

After listing recent successful inquiries like the one into the Hillsborough football tragedy, it concludes: “In Poppi’s memory, please do the right thing again and order a public inquiry to restore confidence in our police force and improve child protection. Please act to stop other children being failed like she was.”