Mrs Hodge says she's up to the job

Eleanor Laing, the new shadow children's minister, said people could have no confidence in Mrs Hodge given her alleged failure to act over sex abuse cases when she was leader of Islington Council.

Islington Council was dogged by claims that council staff were abusing children in care during the 1980s and 1990s.

Mrs Hodge has said mistakes were made... she should be given credit for that Tony Blair's official spokesman

But Mrs Hodge, who was council leader between 1982 and 1992, says having that experience makes her well qualified for the new job and Downing Street is supporting her.

Mrs Laing is pressing for an emergency House of Commons debate on the issue.

She said: "The evidence clearly shows she is not fit to fulfil the responsibility of the job.

"We ought to have a minister for children in whom everyone can have confidence.

"The prime minister should remove Margaret Hodge to give people confidence this important post is being managed by someone responsible."

Warnings

Tony Blair's official spokesman says the prime minister was fully aware of Ms Hodge's background when he appointed her to the new post.

"The prime minister believes she has spoken about the events of 12 years ago and given what she has said about the lessons learned, she is a minister who is equipped to do the job," said the spokesman.

He said Mrs Hodge should be given credit for admitting mistakes were made.

I always put children first. Did things go wrong? Yes they did. Have I learnt from those lessons? Of course I have Margaret Hodge

Speaking on BBC London, Mrs Hodge urged people to look at her record in government in developing children's services.

"What I want now is the opportunity after two weeks in office to get on with the job of putting in place all those services... which will give a better start to young children and indeed make sure there are safe in their homes, in their communities, in our streets," she said.

Questions were raised about Mrs Hodge's appointment to the new post of minister for children in last month's reshuffle because of her time at Islington.

Mrs Hodge was severely criticised by an inquiry into the death of one child during that period for failing to heed the warnings of social workers.

Mrs Hodge's new role involves overseeing policies on children under five, childcare, teenage pregnancy, family law and children at risk. She was formerly minister for higher education.

Lessons learned

Mrs Hodge told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday that she "deeply regretted" the abuse of children by council staff.

But insisted: "I've had 12 years to think about those issues, to read about them, to talk to people about them, to learn about them.

"I think that equips me better than most, having been through that experience, in thinking about how we now create a safe environment for those children at risk, and really put the children at the heart of all the policies and the structures that we develop."

Mrs Hodge said that during the 1970s and 1980s "there was an enormous lack of understanding of what was particularly happening in children's homes".

"There were terrible things happening in children's homes, and I deeply, deeply, deeply regret it. Never a month goes by when I don't think about it."

But she added: "Whenever an allegation of something going wrong was brought to my attention, we investigated it.

The death of Victoria Climbie prompted the new role

"In some instances, where it was appropriate we brought in the police.

"I always put children first. Did things go wrong? Yes they did. Have I learnt from those lessons? Of course I have..."

On Tuesday, she stressed allegations that she failed to tackle about a paedophile ring in Islington were untrue.

A memo written in 1990 showed both social workers and the police had been brought in over those concerns in a thorough investigation into the concerns, she said.

The minister for children post was created partly in response to the Laming report into the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie.