Last updated 13:22, Monday, 17 November 2008

In the cold, cruel light of depressing reality, his gesture seems almost futile. But a Carlisle father’s pleas on behalf of Baby P and vulnerable children like him echo the angry frustrations of millions.

Kevin Wharton has launched a campaign for justice for the little boy who died in horrific circumstances, despite being under the protection of social services in the London borough of Haringey.

His petition calling for an overhaul of the way in which social services operate and for the baby’s mother, stepfather and their lodger to be punished for murder has gained more than 100,000 pledges of support.

None can have failed to have been distressed by the detail of this tragic toddler’s tortured life. Neither can any with an ounce of decency begin to understand how those responsible for his safety are still in employment – able to defend their positions with bureaucratic gibberish about improved procedures and lessons learned since the death of Victoria Climbie.

While social workers and box-ticking officers were learning lessons of paper shuffling, a little boy was dying under their noses, suffering 50 sickening injuries, existing in disgusting squalor and a terrible fear no toddler should know.

Kevin Wharton, a father of a young daughter himself is agitating for real change. He and many millions more can only live in hope of success.