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Tom Watson 'must apologise' over Lord Brittan claims Tom Watson defends actions over Lord Brittan allegations
(about 3 hours later)
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson should apologise after police dropped a rape inquiry against Leon Brittan, the former home secretary's brother says. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has insisted he had a "duty" to inform police of sex abuse allegations against former Home Secretary Leon Brittan.
Sir Samuel Brittan said Mr Watson, who demanded prosecutors review abuse allegations made against Lord Brittan, had made "unfounded accusations". Mr Watson faced calls to apologise from Lord Brittan's brother Sir Samuel Brittan over "unfounded accusations" after police dropped a rape inquiry.
Lord Brittan died in January without being told there was no case for him to answer over an alleged rape in 1967. Mr Watson said he was sorry for the distress caused to the family.
Mr Watson has previously said his motivation was to help victims. But, in a blog for The Huffington Post, the MP said he had wanted the claims "properly investigated".
He also argued he had helped bring historical sex abuse cases to court. Lord Brittan died in January.
The BBC has tried to contact Mr Watson but he has not responded. He had not been told there was no case for him to answer over an alleged rape in 1967.
The Crown Prosecution Service found in July 2013 that there was not enough evidence for a prosecution over the claim Lord Brittan raped a 19-year-old student in 1967. In his blog, Mr Watson wrote: "I have said in the past that I am sorry for the distress Leon Brittan's family experienced as they grieved for him.
The case was reopened last year after Mr Watson wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions. While seriously ill, Lord Brittan was interviewed under caution. "I still am. But I wanted the claims made against him properly investigated."
He also said he should not have described Lord Brittan as "close to evil".
"As the tributes flowed in from his lifelong friends, I felt for those people who claimed he abused them," he said.
"The choice facing anyone who is presented with testimony of this kind is whether to pass it on to the authorities and urge them to investigate or to ignore it.
"I chose the first option. I felt it was my duty to do so."
The Crown Prosecution Service found in July 2013 that there was not enough evidence for a prosecution over the claim Lord Brittan had raped a 19-year-old student in 1967.
The case was reopened last year after Mr Watson wrote to the director of public prosecutions. Lord Brittan was interviewed under caution while he was seriously ill.
No charges were brought and police said they would not have taken further action.No charges were brought and police said they would not have taken further action.
But the fact he was questioned enabled the media to name Lord Brittan as a suspect in a sex abuse case. But the fact he had been questioned enabled the media to name Lord Brittan as a suspect in a sex abuse case.
London Mayor Boris Johnson has discussed the case with Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met commissioner.London Mayor Boris Johnson has discussed the case with Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met commissioner.
Mr Johnson regards the delay in contacting Lord Brittan as "completely unacceptable".Mr Johnson regards the delay in contacting Lord Brittan as "completely unacceptable".
'Judge and jury' Earlier, journalist Sir Samuel said Mr Watson "should apologise to my sister-in-law for making unfounded accusations against my brother".
Journalist Sir Samuel said Mr Watson "should apologise to my sister-in-law for making unfounded accusations against my brother".
"And he should apologise in public as well," he told the Daily Mail."And he should apologise in public as well," he told the Daily Mail.
Tory MP Nigel Evans, himself cleared of sexual abuse, agreed Mr Watson should apologise to Lord Brittan's family.
"Even when Leon had died, Tom Watson decided to repeat the allegations," Mr Evans said. "It is totally unfounded."
Mr Evans told the BBC Mr Watson had "set himself up as judge and jury".
'Witch-hunt'
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "As vocal as he was at that time, it is amazing that we have heard nothing from him since the revelation that the allegations were not going to be proceeded with."
Home Secretary Theresa May said: "I think those of us in public life should be careful about the language we use."
Former Chancellor Norman Lamont said police investigations into historical abuse risked becoming a "witch-hunt".
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: "I visited Lord Brittan several times in his last days and saw the suffering of a man under the shadow of the vilest accusations. This was an extremely painful time for his wife."
Earlier this week, a vulnerable man who made sex abuse allegations against high-profile figures including Lord Brittan told the BBC he may have been led into making the claims by campaigners.