The head of an inquiry into child abuse in British institutions has called on more leaders to resign. 

Professor Alexis Jay told Times Radio that the coverup of abuse by Smyth cannot be attributed to “one person”.

“I don’t know why anyone would think it wasn’t going on,” she said. “Of course that continues because there haven’t been enough protective actions taken to ensure that it should be reduced.”

Professor Jay was appointed chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in 2016, which was first set up in response to the Jimmy Saville scandal.

She said she would like to hear how the new Labour government will respond to her report, which recommends that all people who work with children – including church workers – should report any allegations of abuse straight to police.

Speaking on abuse by John Smyth, she said: “It can’t just be down to one person. Justin Welby and all of those who failed to take action and allowed this appalling criminal behaviour to continue and for so many victims to have been damaged by it is a disgrace. And anyone who feels that should consider their position.”

A statement from Lambeth palace regarding abuse by former vicar John Roberts said: “The Church must always be accountable and learn lessons from its handling of these cases.”

Last week the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, faced calls to follow the Archbishop of Canterbury’s suit and resign over a failure to adequately handle reports of abuse. He insists that he has always taken abuse seriously.