Theresa May has defended the appointment of Baroness Butler-Sloss to the wide-ranging inquiry into allegations of child abuse at a number of institutions saying she had no regrets about the decision.
The government's "last-minute response" to calls for an inquiry into child abuse has led to Baroness Butler-Sloss' decision to step down as chair of the probe, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has claimed.
Ms Cooper said Lady Butler-Sloss' decision was "the right one" but argued she was put in an "unfair position" by the Home Office, who she claimed had "not managed to address the concerns about either victim confidence or conflict of interest".
"The Government's response to the very serious allegations over child abuse is in danger of losing direction," she added.
"This inquiry now has no chair and no terms of reference and there is considerable confusion over what it will be able to cover, and what the powers of the other investigation into the Home Office and Whitehall will be too."
The Baroness says she did not consider the "difficulties" caused by her background and family connections to the child sex abuse inquiry.
Questions have been raised of former High Court judge Baroness Butler-Sloss since her appointment last week.
22 police officers are now assigned to Operation Fernbridge - the probe into claims of a Westminster cover-up of sex child abuse.