Campaigners were optimistic they would be able to force the Government to back down (Children Now, 10-16 November) after it used its power in the House of Commons to weaken the role of the commissioner, but last week in the Lords the amendment for a strong rights-based commissioner was defeated by 117 to 105 votes.
Caroline Abrahams, director of policy at children's charity NCH, said: "England's children deserve better than a second class commissioner, which it sounds rather like we are heading for."
But she said this should not be seen as the last opportunity to change the commissioner's powers and campaigners were discussing what could be done.
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