It’s not as if we murdered babies in their cots

when helen evans, Oxfam’s former safeguarding chief, said she had begged bosses to act on abuse allegations she had uncovered – but her concerns were swept aside. Mr Goldring faced renewed criticism when he appeared to play down the extent of the scandal, complaining the charity was being attacked by the media as if it had ‘murdered babies in their cots’. MPs welcomed Mr Goldring’s decision.

Nigel evans, who sits on the Commons international development committee, said: ‘Mark Goldring clearly misjudged the approach to this issue, which has cost the charity dear in contributions and reputation. It now has the opportunity to rebuild – and that needed a change at the top.’

Former aid secretary Priti Patel said: ‘In light