Simon Danczuk, the backbencher who has led the calls for an inquiry into allegations of abuse dating back decades, said the problems which had dogged the probe set up last summer appeared to have been “quite deliberate mistakes by people in central Government.”

A letter leaked at the weekend showed that Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is considering abandoning the current panel, amid a catalogue of problems including the resignations of two chairman.

A victims’ representative said the only people who wished to see the inquiry fail were the abusers themselves.

Asked if he thought Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was responsible for a deliberate cover-up, Mr Danczuk said he was confident she wanted to get to the truth.