MP calls for Shannon case review

Matthews was unable to put her children's needs above her own

The MP in Shannon Matthews' home town has called for a review of the contacts social services had with her family before she was kidnapped by her mother.

Karen Matthews, 33, was convicted on Thursday of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

The BBC has learnt Kirklees Council commissioned a psychological report into Matthews in December 2003 - over four years before Shannon disappeared.

Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik said an independent review would be "sensible".

He was speaking after the BBC's Panorama programme revealed that the 2003 social services report said Karen Matthews needed "constant monitoring" because of concerns for the welfare of her seven children.

Mr Malik talks about his concerns over the case

But he said the case was not the same as that of Baby P, the child whose death in north London led to criticism of social services at Haringey Council.

Mr Malik told BBC News: "My gut instinct is that this is not a case like Baby P.

"But the truth is that we don't know what this actually is and a review will tell us."

Mr Malik said he was confident that a review would "demonstrate that Kirklees has nothing to hide whatsoever", but he hoped lessons could be learned from the case.

"This review ought to look at whether sufficient resources are allocated for this type of child protection work.

"It's not about scapegoating social workers."

During a three-week trial at Leeds Crown Court, the jury heard that Matthews conspired with Michael Donovan, 40, her partner's uncle, to imprison her daughter in a plan to claim