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Tom Watson To Be Quizzed Over Brittan Claims

Tom Watson To Be Quizzed Over Brittan Claims

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson is to face MPs' questions over his pursuit of sex abuse allegations against the late Lord Brittan.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee has invited Mr Watson to appear before them on 21 October "to clarify a number of points concerning his involvement in these matters".

Mr Watson has faced intense criticism for his comments about Lord Brittan in relation to a police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring - but he has refused to apologise.

In the days after the former chancellor's death in January, Mr Watson used a line by one of the alleged victims describing the politician as "close to evil as any human being could get".

One woman's claim of rape from 1967 was examined by the Metropolitan Police but officers could not find evidence that would lead to further action.

Pressure on Mr Watson is mounting with the release of a letter obtained by BBC's Panorama programme in which he wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions in May 2014.

In it he raised concerns that Lord Brittan's position had influenced the way the case had been handled.

Lord Brittan's brother, Sir Samuel Brittan, told Sky News last week that Mr Watson had gone too far.

"I think he would do better to finding policy for Labour rather than scraping around for tittle tattle," said Sir Samuel.

"He should apologise for any allegations that are known to be untrue. He should take a vow of silence for the next year."

Lord Brittan, who was Conservative home secretary under Margaret Thatcher, died in January without being told that the case was dropped.

The police have written to his widow apologising for not offering "clarity" over the status of their investigation sooner.

The Metropolitan force will also give evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on 21 October.

Committee chair Keith Vaz said: "The committee firmly believes that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which the Home Secretary has established under the chairmanship of Judge Lowell Goddard, is the most appropriate channel for these very important matters to be examined.

"Our evidence session is therefore intended as a continuation of the regular series of very helpful regular updates which the committee received from the Metropolitan Police in the last Parliament and to hear evidence on a particular case."