Global superstar and campaigner Ellie Goulding is just one of the high profile celebrities who has backed The Post’s call for a public inquiry into the death of little Preston Davey.

The ‘Starry Eyed’ singer, who has sold more than 27 million albums and 216 million singles worldwide and accumulated 43 billion streams, is ranked among the best-selling British female artists of the 21st century.

Ellie has signed the ‘Preston Davey deserved better, call for a national inquiry’ petition set up by The Gazette, sister title the Lancashire Post and backed by Blackpool MP Chris Webb.

She has added her voice to more than 60,000 others demanding answers about how a little boy could so catastrophically be failed by the safeguarding procedures designed to protect him.

Ellie Goulding, Carrie Johnson and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton have lent their support to ‘Preston Davey deserved better, call for a national inquiry’ campaign set up by The Gazette, sister title the Lancashire Post and backed by Blackpool MP Chris Webb. | Iconic Media

As well as signing the petition all three prominent figures have shared Preston’s tragic story in a bid to encourage Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to agree to a national inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost a ‘happy and bubbly’ baby boy his life.

Sarah and Preston’s biological father Gary Nolan have joined with the Blackpool Gazette, its sister title the Lancashire Post and Blackpool South MP Chris Webb calling on the government to launch a national inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost Preston his life | Iconic Media

Sign the petition and demand answers over how state safeguarding failures could cost a baby boy his life

Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry

Petition · Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry – United Kingdom · Change.org

Blackpool MP Chris Webb has also raised the matter directly with No.10 and personally asked the Prime Minister to establish a public inquiry.

Ellie Goulding and Carrie Johnson said: “As mothers of young children, we were horrified by the tragic death of little Preston Davey at the hands of those who were supposed to love and protect him.

“The details of his case are deeply distressing, not least because so many opportunities to intervene appear to have been missed.

“Serious questions remain about how this could have happened and whether similar failings are occurring elsewhere. That’s why we have signed this petition for a public national inquiry.”

Ellie Goulding, Carrie Johnson and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton have lent their support to ‘Preston Davey deserved better, call for a national inquiry’ campaign set up by The Gazette, sister title the Lancashire Post and backed by Blackpool MP Chris Webb. | Iconic Media

Preston Davey was just 13-months-old when he was murdered by the man who was in the process of adopting him. The man he came to know as ‘dad’.

In less than four months, little Preston was sexually assaulted, physically and emotionally abused, and left with 40 non-accidental injuries. He was taken to hospital three times. Social workers visited regularly. His abusers even admitted to having dark thoughts about him. And still, nothing stopped it.

Ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life sentence for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston. His now ex-partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.

Preston was taken into care by Oldham Council and placed for adption by regional adoption agency Adoption Now. Blackpool’s children’s services have no involvement in his safeguarding.

Preston Davey deserved better.

The Blackpool Gazette, and the Lancashire Post, backed by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb are leading calls to the government to launch a national inquiry.

Chris Webb, Blackpool South MP said: “The public response to baby Preston’s case has been extraordinary and reflects the strength of feeling among a community, which is devastated by the loss of this little boy in such tragic circumstances.

“More than 60,000 people have now signed the petition calling for an inquiry and campaigners, charities, fellow MPs and high-profile supporters from across the country have joined those calls.