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Awaab Ishak’s parents demand accountability

The future of the landlord of the mould-infested Rochdale flat that killed Awaab Ishak appears in severe doubt after the two-year-old’s parents were compelled to issue a statement demanding “accountability” after Gareth Swarbrick refused to quit.

Swarbrick, the chief executive of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), a social landlord, said late on Thursday, “I will not be resigning”, despite a call in parliament for him to stand down and the launch of an investigation into potential “systemic failures” at the organisation.

But in a clear indication, the government was unlikely to accept him continuing in his post, a senior government source described his position as untenable, saying: “It is staggering that Gareth Swarbrick is still in a job.”

Awaab’s parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin released a statement on Friday afternoon warning the landlord has yet to show it grasps “the gravity of the situation”, saying: “Accountability must be done and be seen to be done.”

They said the coroner had concluded “that the tragic death of our beautiful Awaab should be a ‘defining moment for the housing sector and his parents” but said they saw nothing to indicate that was happening.

“RBH has an opportunity to demonstrate to society at large, their residents and not least us as a family that they understand the gravity of this situation,” they said. “We await further action from RBH.”

The Rochdale MP, Labour’s Tony Lloyd, also dismissed Swarbrick’s attempt to hold on to his post, saying on Friday that Awaab’s death was “preventable and unforgivable” and that the chief executive “clinging to his job is not OK”.

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