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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex-MP Harvey Proctor denies child abuse claims | Ex-MP Harvey Proctor denies child abuse claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former MP has said he is "completely innocent" of claims of child abuse and murder, a day after being questioned by police for a second time. | A former MP has said he is "completely innocent" of claims of child abuse and murder, a day after being questioned by police for a second time. |
| Harvey Proctor said the claims had "wrecked" his life and called for senior police officers to resign. | Harvey Proctor said the claims had "wrecked" his life and called for senior police officers to resign. |
| He was interviewed under caution as part of Operation Midland, an inquiry into claims powerful men abused children in the 1970s and 1980s. | He was interviewed under caution as part of Operation Midland, an inquiry into claims powerful men abused children in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| He called the Metropolitan Police inquiry a "homosexual witch hunt". | He called the Metropolitan Police inquiry a "homosexual witch hunt". |
| "I'm a homosexual. I'm not a murderer or a paedophile," said Mr Proctor. | "I'm a homosexual. I'm not a murderer or a paedophile," said Mr Proctor. |
| He held a press conference to address the issue, saying he wanted to end the "drip, drip, drip" of information in the media. | He held a press conference to address the issue, saying he wanted to end the "drip, drip, drip" of information in the media. |
| Mr Proctor, Conservative MP for Billericay until 1987, said he met officers from the Metropolitan Police voluntarily on Monday, following a similar interview in June. | Mr Proctor, Conservative MP for Billericay until 1987, said he met officers from the Metropolitan Police voluntarily on Monday, following a similar interview in June. |
| The Met said it would not be commenting following Mr Proctor's press conference. | The Met said it would not be commenting following Mr Proctor's press conference. |
| 'Nothing to hide' | 'Nothing to hide' |
| During the conference in central London, Mr Proctor said he believed all the claims against him came from one complainant - protected by legal anonymity and known only as "Nick". | During the conference in central London, Mr Proctor said he believed all the claims against him came from one complainant - protected by legal anonymity and known only as "Nick". |
| The former MP said: | The former MP said: |
| Mr Proctor added: "I should be arrested, charged and prosecuted for murder and these awful crimes immediately so I can start the process of ridiculing these preposterous allegations in open court - or 'Nick' should be stripped of his anonymity and prosecuted for wasting police time and money, making the most foul of false allegations and seeking to pervert the course of justice." | Mr Proctor added: "I should be arrested, charged and prosecuted for murder and these awful crimes immediately so I can start the process of ridiculing these preposterous allegations in open court - or 'Nick' should be stripped of his anonymity and prosecuted for wasting police time and money, making the most foul of false allegations and seeking to pervert the course of justice." |
| He also said that "Nick" should be "medically examined to ensure he is of sound mind". | He also said that "Nick" should be "medically examined to ensure he is of sound mind". |
| 'Despised' Heath | |
| Mr Proctor said police had asked him if he knew his "eight alleged co-conspirators". | |
| He said this alleged "gang" contained people he knew, as well as people he had heard of and people he did not know. | |
| "None of the allegations were alleged to have taken place at my home, and I have not visited the homes of any of the 'gang'," he said. | |
| Mr Proctor said the list of names included those of former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, former chief of the defence staff Lord Bramall and former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath. | |
| He said he and Sir Edward "despised" each other and that he had never been to Sir Edward's home - which he pointed out would have had CCTV and numerous security and household staff. | |
| "It is so far-fetched as to be unbelievable. It is unbelievable because it is not true," he said. | |
| "My situation has transformed from Kafkaesque bewilderment to black farce incredulity." |