A top police official has had their position criticised and called 'unsustainable' at a parliamentary debate on the police handling of the Poppi Worthington case.

The 13-month-old girl, from Barrow, died shortly after suffering a serious sexual assault, which a judge said had been at the hands of her father, Paul Worthington, 48, on December 12, 2012.

In a debate at the House of Commons, John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, made the call after it emerged that an official report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) criticised the role of the acting chief constable Michelle Skeer in the investigation into Poppi's death.

He said that the report was not made known to the police and crime commissioner when he endorsed her appointment, and asked whether it would be possible for this report to be openly published.

Mr Woodcock said: "The continuation of Michelle Skeer in post as acting chief constable is unsustainable.

"It is to the detriment of restoring confidence in the police force and the changes that need to be carried out."

While the position of Ms Skeer rests in the hands of  police and crime commissioner Richard Rhodes, Mr Woodcock asked home officer minister Karen Bradley to confirm if she would support Cumbria police should she be removed.  

Karen Bradley said that despite her sympathies for Mr Woodcock's argument, the Home Office believed it would be inappropriate for them to get involved, and that the publication of this report could be prejudicial to future proceedings.

She said: "The circumstances surrounding the death of Poppi Worthington are extremely distressing and disturbing.

"However, I cannot comment on this case in detail, it has become even more crucial to maintain this stance given the news that the inquest into Poppi's death will reopen in March. 

"I am sure that members of the house will share my primary concern that we should not prejudice this much needed judicial process."

Mr Woodcock also added his praise for the Evening Mail's #justiceforpoppi campaign, which was launched to demand an independent inquiry into Poppi's death and a fresh police investigation by a different police force to get underway. 

The second inquest into Poppi's death will take place on March 18 at the coroners court in Station Road, Cockermouth.

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