The council which failed to save tragic Baby P from abuse has admitted spending £19,000 on media training for high-profile employees involved in the case.
Liz Santry, Haringey's Cabinet member for children and young people who resigned earlier this month, and Sharon Shoesmith, the council's head of children's services who was removed from her post on the same day, are thought to be among those who received special training.
David Winskill, the Liberal Democrat councillor who requested the figure, said he believed the media training had been designed to protect Haringey from criticism but had failed.
Lynne Featherstone, the Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, added: "It is absolutely outrageous that this money has been wasted on spin doctors. Every single penny of this cash would have been better spent on improving our children's service."
Mr Winskill, a member of the council's overview and scrutiny committee, requested the figure from council leader George Meehan who resigned shortly after the question was tabled.
The subsequent reply from the leader's office read: "The cost of paid for media advice to the council from three sources included media training for key spokespeople. The total estimated final cost will be £19,000."
The names of the firms used were given to councillors but were not made public.
Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died in a blood-spattered cot in August last year.
He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, 27, her boyfriend, 32, and their lodger, Jason Owen, 36, despite 60 contacts with the authorities over eight months.
The council was criticised for refusing to apologise for its failure to protect the little boy.
