Tom Watson remains defiant in face of fresh demands for apology over Leon Brittan rape claim

Bullish: Tom Watson
PA Wire
Jason Collie12 October 2015
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tom Watson has refused to apologise for raising allegations against the late Leon Brittan and instead demanded all MPs examine their consciences.

Mr Watson said all politicians had "presided over a state of affairs where children have been abused and then ignored, dismissed and then disdained - if anyone deserves an apology it is them".

Labour's deputy leader was met with loud cries of "shame" from the Tory benches in the House of Commons following his remarks, which were provoked by Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames demanding an apology to Lord Brittan's family in a point of order.

He had pressured police to re-open their investigation into claims Lord Brittan had raped a woman known as ‘Jane’ in 1967.

The Tory peer was interviewed before his death, and last week Scotland Yard informed his family he had been cleared on the allegations.

Mr Watson said: "I understand MPs feel aggrieved Leon Brittan was interviewed by the police and they are angry with my use of language but I am sure they would also agree that when someone is accused of multiple sexual crimes by numerous completely unrelated sources the police have a duty to investigate, no matter who it is."

It hasn't all got out of hand just because people in high places are scared. The survivors of child abuse have been belittled and ridiculed for too long. That's the real scandal here

&#13; <p>Tom Watson</p>&#13;

Mr Watson continued: "It is not for me to judge the validity of these claims but I believe I was right to demand the guidelines were adhered to.

"It hasn't all got out of hand just because people in high places are scared. The survivors of child abuse have been belittled and ridiculed for too long. That's the real scandal here."

Mr Watson recalled remarks by the Prime Minister today urging him to "examine his conscience" over the allegations made.

Mr Watson said: "I think we all need to examine our consciences in this House, we presided over a state of affairs where children have been abused and then ignored, dismissed and then disdained.

"If anyone deserves an apology it is them."

Mr Watson accepted on Friday that he should not have repeated the comment of an alleged sex abuse survivor that the peer was "close to evil".

But he insisted it was his "duty" to pass on evidence from those claiming to have been abused to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

[Tom Watson should] apologise for the way in which he has so vilely traduced the late Lord Brittan and further ... apologise to Lord Brittan's dignified and courageous widow

&#13; <p>Sir Nicholas Soames</p>&#13;

Raising a point of order in the Commons, Sir Nicholas asked the Speaker if Mr Watson had asked to make a personal statement in which he should: "Apologise for the way in which he has so vilely traduced the late Lord Brittan and further for him to have a chance to apologise to Lord Brittan's dignified and courageous widow."

Following Mr Watson's remarks, Mr Bercow said: "This is not an occasion for a debate on this matter."

Sir Nicholas said Mr Watson's response was "completely unacceptable" and called on him to think again about the way he was conducting his campaign.

"He has become the witch-finder general," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Mr Watson said he was "absolutely not" going to step down as Labour's deputy leader.

Asked if he thought he was "fit for this office", he told Channel 4 News: "Of course I do. I'm trying to get to the truth of historic child abuse over many decades."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in