BURNLEY-born MP Shahid Malik has demanded an urgent inquiry into social services’ role in the Shannon Matthews case.

Mr Malik, who represents Dewsbury, has said a review is needed to learn lessons but has insisted he is not looking for scapegoats.

Shannon’s mother Karen Matthews, 33, who is from Mr Malik’s constituency, was condemned by police as “pure evil” after she was last week convicted of her daughter's kidnap alongside her co-accused Michael Donovan.

A judge told her she faces a substantial jail sentence.

Afterwards, Justice Minister Mr Malik said: “My gut instinct is that this is not a case like Baby P.

"But the truth is that we don't know what this actually is.

"I think the sensible thing is to have an independent review.”