Tom Watson says sorry to Lady Brittan over 'paedophile ring' in Lords
Tom Watson uses his first speech in the Lords to say sorry to Lady Brittan over ‘VIP paedophile ring’ probe that saw her husband Leon Brittan being wrongly accused
- Lord Watson of Wyre Forest told peers he said sorry to widow of Leon Brittan, one of several who were wrongly accused of historical child abuse
- Former Tory MP criticised not apologising to all who had been wrongly accused
- Lord Watson’s apology was welcomed by some others, however
Tom Watson was labelled ‘dishonourable’ yesterday as he discussed the failed probe – that he had promoted – into a fictitious VIP paedophile ring, during his first speech in the House of Lords.
Lord Watson of Wyre Forest told peers he had said sorry to the widow of former home secretary Leon Brittan, one of several public figures who were wrongly accused of historical child abuse.
However, former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was also unfairly embroiled in the witchhunt, criticised Lord Watson for not apologising to all who had been wrongly accused.
The ex-Labour deputy leader, who supported the fantasist behind the lurid claims that sparked Scotland Yard’s disastrous Operation Midland, pledged to bring about the police reforms demanded by Lady Brittan.
Lord Watson (pictured) of Wyre Forest told peers he had said sorry to the widow of former home secretary Leon Brittan, one of several public figures who were wrongly accused of historical child abuse
In his maiden speech yesterday afternoon, Lord Watson highlighted police reform as an area where cross-party support was required.
He went on: ‘I apologise unreservedly to Lady Brittan for the role that I played in the investigation of historic child sexual abuse.
‘Her experiences led to several recommendations about how the police conduct themselves.
I’m sorry and I owe it to her to work to achieve those aims in this House in the months and years ahead.’
But Lord Watson is still facing demands to say sorry to others who had their lives ruined by the false claims he promoted.
Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor said: ‘Tom Watson has never apologised to me.
‘His maiden speech could have been the appropriate moment to apologise to all.
‘By not doing so, it’s clear his omission is deliberate and that he is never going to apologise to me. He is truly dishonourable.’
Mr Proctor pointed out that while he was innocent, the fantasist supported by Lord Watson – Carl Beech, also known as Nick – had been found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Lord Watson had met Beech, and encouraged police to investigate his claims thoroughly.
Yesterday Mr Proctor asked: ‘Why will Watson not accept he backed the wrong guy?’
The Daily Mail has long campaigned for an end to the witchhunt triggered by the false claims.
Last night Tory peer Baroness Foster of Oxton said: ‘His words are too little too late and he should never have been given a peerage by Keir Starmer – he destroyed people’s reputations and lives.’
Lord Watson’s apology was welcomed by some others, however.
Labour peer Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe told peers: ‘To apologise like that takes some doing, and it is right for us to say that we are sorry ourselves, to accept it and welcome him.’
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