THE founder of collapsed charity Kids Company accused the government yesterday of trying to silence her because she knew about sexual abuse allegations against senior figures.

Camila Batman­ghelidjh also lashed out at ministers, civil servants and the media, claiming the organisation had been the victim of a “trial by media.”

An estimated 36,000 vulnerable children and young people received support from Kids Company but it was forced to wind up its operations on Wednesday amid suggestions of financial mismanagement and allegations of unreported abuse of young people receiving care from the organisation.

The government has convened an emergency meeting to draw up plans to support the affected young people.

But Ms Batmanghelidjh said that the government was to blame for her resignation as head of Kids Company in July.

“I’m being suppressed because I know about sexual abuse claims against senior people,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

As of yesterday, at least seven police forces had confirmed that they were investigating numerous allegations of sexual abuse made against former Tory prime minister Edward Heath.

It is not the first time that allegations have been made of attempted cover-ups relating to abuse by senior Westminster figures, including former home secretary Leon Brittan.

Last month documents emerged suggesting that an investigation into allegations made against a number of senior Tories had been dropped by inland spy agency MI5 after discussions with the Thatcher cabinet.

Meanwhile, Labour leadership front runner Jeremy Corbyn asked about the investigation into Mr Heath and other police probes during a debate.

“There has to be a standing commission to investigate this, the trauma that victims of childhood sexual abuse go through and carry it with them for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“If there were cover-ups because the alleged perpetrator was a very prominent person at that time, the law should apply to everyone, whoever they are, absolutely equally.”

Adding caution, however, he said: “We should be very careful that just calling someone an abuser is not the same thing as proven evidence, the proven evidence has to be before any final decision is made.”

The independent inquiry into child sex abuse led by Justice Lowell Goddard has said it will consider allegations against Mr Heath “should the facts justify it.”

Mr Corbyn said that the commission was doing important work but warned that it should have powers to conduct investigations in the Channel Islands and other territories outside Britain.

“It could turn into a permanent commission,” he suggested.

Calls were repeated for the inquiry to investigate abuse at Kincora Boys’ Home in east Belfast, which it is claimed involved senior members of the British Establishment.