Olivia Colman and Ellie Goulding are among 100,000 Britons calling for a public inquiry into the murder of Preston Davey.
A slew of celebrities are calling on the Government to do more after it was revealed social services repeatedly missed opportunities to save the abused 13-month-old.
Preston was killed in July 2023 by his adoptive parent and abuser, Jamie Varley, who was handed a whole life order earlier in June.
The 37-year-old was also guilty of two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, and sexual assault of a child.
His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years in prison after he was convicted of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and another count of sexual assault.
Preston Crown Court heard Varley inflicted “unremitting abuse” on Preston before a final sexual assault which ended the baby’s life.
But public outrage increased further when the court revealed the number of missed opportunities by social services.
As a result, the celeb-backed inquiry is demanding the Government launch a national inquiry into the “safeguarding failures that cost Preston his life”.
Preston Davey died at 13 months old in July 2023 | LANCASHIRE POLICE
Backed by Preston’s birth parents, it questioned why “repeated warning signs” were disregarded and asked whether adoption vetting procedures are sufficiently rigorous to “stop prospective adopters hiding behind a false front”.
“But the question that has to be asked – and answered – is how a baby boy in the care of the state could be so badly let down by every system designed to protect him,” it added.
Carrie Johnson, the wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has also been outspoken on the case and backed the national inquiry.
Preston was taken to hospital on three occasions before his death, with staff members noting bruising on his body on each occasion.
Carrie Johnson joined calls for a national inquiry
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PA
In one instance, a hospital safeguarding team handed over Preston’s case to Lancashire Constabulary.
However, when a consultation said there was no issue, the baby’s case closed.
Social workers came to visit the adopted baby at his home a number of times ahead of his murder but also failed to act on the persistent abuse.
A post-mortem of the 13-month-old revealed more than 40 external bruises, both external and internal.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had previously committed to rolling out new safeguards in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
She described the two men as “evil abusers” and said she was “glad that justice has been served” now that the pair had been sentenced.
In response, Helen Hayes, education committee chairwoman, urged ministers to set out a timetable for implementing “multi-agency child protection teams in every local authority area”.
A Government spokesman said: “An independent review has been commissioned by the local authorities and the independent national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will work with them to get to the bottom of this horrifying case.”