FIONA WOOLF quit the government inquiry into historic child sex abuse yesterday under mounting pressure from victims.

She told the BBC that it has been clear to her for some time that she did not have the confidence of the victims.

“I was determined that the inquiry got to the bottom of the issues and if I don’t command their confidence to run the panel fairly and impartially then I need to get out of the way,” she said.

“It has been brewing for some time. Ever since the issue first arose I have been worrying about the negative perceptions and there has been a lot of negative comment and innuendo and that has got in the way as well.”

Earlier in the day, victims’ representatives issued a unanimous call for her to be replaced at a meeting with inquiry officials.

There was growing concern over her relationship with Leon Brittan, whose actions as home secretary when a dossier on Establishment paedophilia was handed over has come under scrutiny.

Home Secretary Theresa May said she had accepted Ms Woolf’s resignation “with regret.”

Ms May — who is to make a Commons statement on Monday — said the inquiry panel would continue its work while a new chair was appointed.

Alison Millar, head of the abuse team at Leigh Day solicitors which represents victims welcomed the resignation.

“The terms of reference must be based on the needs of survivors and must cover the scale of abuse which is slowly coming to light across the UK,” she said.

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