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| Tom Watson gives evidence to MPs about his role in Leon Brittan affair – live | Tom Watson gives evidence to MPs about his role in Leon Brittan affair – live |
| (3 months later) | |
| 5.52pm BST | |
| 17:52 | |
| Home affairs select committee hearing into the late Lord Brittan – summary | Home affairs select committee hearing into the late Lord Brittan – summary |
| I’m very sorry for the distress caused. I’m very sorry for the whole wider family. I know they are very angry and they clearly loved Leon Brittan very much. | I’m very sorry for the distress caused. I’m very sorry for the whole wider family. I know they are very angry and they clearly loved Leon Brittan very much. |
| They are angry on behalf of their family member and I am sorry. | They are angry on behalf of their family member and I am sorry. |
| I felt that peoples’ voices were not being heard and I felt responsibility for them. | I felt that peoples’ voices were not being heard and I felt responsibility for them. |
| That’s it from me today. Thanks for all your comments. | That’s it from me today. Thanks for all your comments. |
| Updated | |
| at 5.58pm BST | |
| 5.13pm BST | |
| 17:13 | |
| Saunders says the CPS is not influenced by outside pressures. | Saunders says the CPS is not influenced by outside pressures. |
| DPP Alison Saunders says CPS pursue cases where there is a "realistic prospect of a conviction". Never influenced by outside pressures | DPP Alison Saunders says CPS pursue cases where there is a "realistic prospect of a conviction". Never influenced by outside pressures |
| DPP Alison Saunders says she passed on Watson's letter as they do with many other similar letters from other MPs. | DPP Alison Saunders says she passed on Watson's letter as they do with many other similar letters from other MPs. |
| "I can't answer for police so we always pass to the relevant force" says DPP Saunders in the common situation of MPs writing letters | "I can't answer for police so we always pass to the relevant force" says DPP Saunders in the common situation of MPs writing letters |
| 5.09pm BST | |
| 17:09 | |
| Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, is now before the committee. | Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, is now before the committee. |
| Meanwhile, here are some key quotes from Watson, who said he was “sad” DCI Settle felt his letter to the DPP was a betrayal. | Meanwhile, here are some key quotes from Watson, who said he was “sad” DCI Settle felt his letter to the DPP was a betrayal. |
| I feel very sad that DCI Settle feels that because I had a very good working relationship with him. | I feel very sad that DCI Settle feels that because I had a very good working relationship with him. |
| Neither of us really wanted to be in a position where there was such a volume of information that needed to be passed over to the police. | Neither of us really wanted to be in a position where there was such a volume of information that needed to be passed over to the police. |
| That wasn’t my intention, to affect his career, I just wanted to make sure that Jane’s voice was amplified in the system. | That wasn’t my intention, to affect his career, I just wanted to make sure that Jane’s voice was amplified in the system. |
| Watson also apologised to Lady Brittan, telling the committee: | Watson also apologised to Lady Brittan, telling the committee: |
| I’m very sorry for the distress caused. I’m very sorry for the whole wider family. I know they are very angry and they clearly loved Leon Brittan very much. | I’m very sorry for the distress caused. I’m very sorry for the whole wider family. I know they are very angry and they clearly loved Leon Brittan very much. |
| They are angry on behalf of their family member and I am sorry. | They are angry on behalf of their family member and I am sorry. |
| I felt that peoples’ voices were not being heard and I felt responsibility for them. | I felt that peoples’ voices were not being heard and I felt responsibility for them. |
| 5.07pm BST | |
| 17:07 | |
| Watson says he hopes we can create the public policy space which ensures victims of sexual crimes feel they will be taken seriously. | Watson says he hopes we can create the public policy space which ensures victims of sexual crimes feel they will be taken seriously. |
| David Winnick asks Tom Watson: "Your conscience is clear?" Watson: "Yes." | David Winnick asks Tom Watson: "Your conscience is clear?" Watson: "Yes." |
| 5.02pm BST | |
| 17:02 | |
| Here’s a video of Watson apologising to Lady Brittan for the distress caused. | Here’s a video of Watson apologising to Lady Brittan for the distress caused. |
| 5.01pm BST | |
| 17:01 | |
| Watson says as an MP you can only try and get people into the system and refer their allegations to the police. | Watson says as an MP you can only try and get people into the system and refer their allegations to the police. |
| He admits he didn’t know what the victim was saying was true but felt the allegations should be fully investigated. | He admits he didn’t know what the victim was saying was true but felt the allegations should be fully investigated. |
| Watson denies he was trying to play prosecutor and jury by sending the letter to the DPP. He didn’t doubt Settle’s judgement until he met the victim again, and she was very distressed. “She felt so strongly about it that I felt that that was the right course of action... I didn’t do it with the intention of undermining DCI Settle...I did not want to micromanage a police inquiry.” | Watson denies he was trying to play prosecutor and jury by sending the letter to the DPP. He didn’t doubt Settle’s judgement until he met the victim again, and she was very distressed. “She felt so strongly about it that I felt that that was the right course of action... I didn’t do it with the intention of undermining DCI Settle...I did not want to micromanage a police inquiry.” |
| Watson is asked if he thinks the way the case has panned out will undermine the police in the future. “I hope that isn’t the outcome... it’s led to more people coming to my office in the past week.” | Watson is asked if he thinks the way the case has panned out will undermine the police in the future. “I hope that isn’t the outcome... it’s led to more people coming to my office in the past week.” |
| 4.42pm BST | |
| 16:42 | |
| Watson is being asked if he consulted the police before writing about Brittan for the Daily Mirror. He says no, but denies he was undermining the Goddard Inquiry. | Watson is being asked if he consulted the police before writing about Brittan for the Daily Mirror. He says no, but denies he was undermining the Goddard Inquiry. |
| 4.38pm BST | |
| 16:38 | |
| Watson is asked if he’s surprised he was called before the committee and Zac Goldsmith was not. “Very few things surprise me in Westminster,” he replies. | Watson is asked if he’s surprised he was called before the committee and Zac Goldsmith was not. “Very few things surprise me in Westminster,” he replies. |
| 4.36pm BST | |
| 16:36 | |
| Watson says he’s not responsible for the investigation. All he did was amplify people’s voices. He wanted to make sure they were not treating Lord Brittan differently. | Watson says he’s not responsible for the investigation. All he did was amplify people’s voices. He wanted to make sure they were not treating Lord Brittan differently. |
| He says he went to the DPP rather than the officer on the case because he felt the DPP would give proper guidance on how to conduct the inquiry. | He says he went to the DPP rather than the officer on the case because he felt the DPP would give proper guidance on how to conduct the inquiry. |
| Watson says he “certainly does not want to take part in baseless witch-hunts.” He says he doesn’t know what judgement the police made so he can’t say whether Settle’s comments were accurate. | Watson says he “certainly does not want to take part in baseless witch-hunts.” He says he doesn’t know what judgement the police made so he can’t say whether Settle’s comments were accurate. |
| Watson says yes, he would describe himself as a campaigning member of Parliament, in the sense that “all MPs are campaigners”. | Watson says yes, he would describe himself as a campaigning member of Parliament, in the sense that “all MPs are campaigners”. |
| He says he wasn’t looking to make this a big campaign, “it was the sheer volume of information that came through my office... I was actually trying to have a quieter life after the hacking inquiry.” | He says he wasn’t looking to make this a big campaign, “it was the sheer volume of information that came through my office... I was actually trying to have a quieter life after the hacking inquiry.” |
| 4.28pm BST | |
| 16:28 | |
| Watson says his intention was to make sure the victim’s voice was amplified in the system. “There’s obviously a disagreement at the Met on whose judgement was right. I wasn’t aware of that.” | Watson says his intention was to make sure the victim’s voice was amplified in the system. “There’s obviously a disagreement at the Met on whose judgement was right. I wasn’t aware of that.” |
| When invited, Watson apologises to Lady Brittan: “I’m very sorry for the distressed caused.” He says he feels people’s voices were not being heard and he hopes the Brittan family can try and understand that. | When invited, Watson apologises to Lady Brittan: “I’m very sorry for the distressed caused.” He says he feels people’s voices were not being heard and he hopes the Brittan family can try and understand that. |
| Tom Watson apologises to Leon Brittan's family:"I'm very sorry for the distress caused...I know they're very angry." pic.twitter.com/6pAwapSzNX | Tom Watson apologises to Leon Brittan's family:"I'm very sorry for the distress caused...I know they're very angry." pic.twitter.com/6pAwapSzNX |
| "I'm very sorry for the distress caused" says Tom Watson when invited to apologise to Lady Brittan by Vaz. | "I'm very sorry for the distress caused" says Tom Watson when invited to apologise to Lady Brittan by Vaz. |
| Labour Dep Leader @tom_watson: "very sorry for a wider family, I know they're very angry, they loved Leon Brittan very much" #skynews | Labour Dep Leader @tom_watson: "very sorry for a wider family, I know they're very angry, they loved Leon Brittan very much" #skynews |
| Updated | |
| at 4.30pm BST | |
| 4.23pm BST | |
| 16:23 | |
| Watson denies he was trying to run the process, “nor was I anticipating the volume of information” that was supplied to him. Most MPs would think it is their duty to pass this information to the police to investigate. | Watson denies he was trying to run the process, “nor was I anticipating the volume of information” that was supplied to him. Most MPs would think it is their duty to pass this information to the police to investigate. |
| Vaz asks if Watson went beyond that duty, to the extent that an investigating officer met with him and explained why the investigation was being closed down. “When I met DCI Settle I wasn’t aware of the agenda, he raised this case but I didn’t understand that was the purpose of the meeting”. Watson says he saw Settle’s testimony today and he had a good working relationship with him and believes him to be a very good police officer. “I was not aware of the allegations he made in front of the committee until he made them”. | Vaz asks if Watson went beyond that duty, to the extent that an investigating officer met with him and explained why the investigation was being closed down. “When I met DCI Settle I wasn’t aware of the agenda, he raised this case but I didn’t understand that was the purpose of the meeting”. Watson says he saw Settle’s testimony today and he had a good working relationship with him and believes him to be a very good police officer. “I was not aware of the allegations he made in front of the committee until he made them”. |
| Watson says his intention was not to undermine Settle. He says he accepted the officer’s judgement, and it was only when he met the victim for the second time, where she described the meeting she had with Settle which he himself said was not a pleasant meeting, that he realised she felt distressed. The victim raised a number of concerns about the decisions Settle had taken, Watson says. | Watson says his intention was not to undermine Settle. He says he accepted the officer’s judgement, and it was only when he met the victim for the second time, where she described the meeting she had with Settle which he himself said was not a pleasant meeting, that he realised she felt distressed. The victim raised a number of concerns about the decisions Settle had taken, Watson says. |
| Vaz tells Watson he’s not Sherlock Holmes. Watson said he was asked to reassure public they would be treated seriously by the criminal justice system. | Vaz tells Watson he’s not Sherlock Holmes. Watson said he was asked to reassure public they would be treated seriously by the criminal justice system. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.23pm BST | |
| 4.18pm BST | |
| 16:18 | |
| Tom Watson appears before home affairs select committee | Tom Watson appears before home affairs select committee |
| Tom Watson is now before the select committee. | Tom Watson is now before the select committee. |
| Vaz reads Watson’s line about Brittan: “He was as close to evil as any human being could get”. Vaz says this is emotion and words used about someone Watson has never met. | Vaz reads Watson’s line about Brittan: “He was as close to evil as any human being could get”. Vaz says this is emotion and words used about someone Watson has never met. |
| Watson says he regrets using that emotive language, but it wasn’t a phrase he used, one an alleged victim used. “I am sincerely sorry for repeating it, it was unnecessary.” | Watson says he regrets using that emotive language, but it wasn’t a phrase he used, one an alleged victim used. “I am sincerely sorry for repeating it, it was unnecessary.” |
| Updated | |
| at 5.53pm BST | |
| 4.13pm BST | |
| 16:13 | |
| Rodhouse says the decision to search Brittan’s home was not related to the rape allegation against him, rather a result of other “live” investigations. Keith Vaz jumps in quickly and says they don’t want to know about this. | Rodhouse says the decision to search Brittan’s home was not related to the rape allegation against him, rather a result of other “live” investigations. Keith Vaz jumps in quickly and says they don’t want to know about this. |
| 4.07pm BST | |
| 16:07 | |
| Rodhouse says the appropriate test to interview someone is a judgement call. “Lord Brittan could well have given a cast iron alibi” and the Met could then pursue malicious allegation charges. The issues that arise in an interview were not covered in Settle’s decision-making, he says. | Rodhouse says the appropriate test to interview someone is a judgement call. “Lord Brittan could well have given a cast iron alibi” and the Met could then pursue malicious allegation charges. The issues that arise in an interview were not covered in Settle’s decision-making, he says. |
| DAC Rodhouse says that decision to interview "could have given Brittan a cast iron alibi because he was out of the country" | DAC Rodhouse says that decision to interview "could have given Brittan a cast iron alibi because he was out of the country" |
| BREAKING: DAC Rodhouse explains how a Brittan interview could have expedited matters - e.g. strong alibi and mistaken identity | BREAKING: DAC Rodhouse explains how a Brittan interview could have expedited matters - e.g. strong alibi and mistaken identity |
| Updated | |
| at 4.12pm BST | |
| 4.01pm BST | |
| 16:01 | |
| Rodhouse says the Met were not aware of Watson’s letter until after the decision to review the case and appeal to the CPS. | Rodhouse says the Met were not aware of Watson’s letter until after the decision to review the case and appeal to the CPS. |
| DAC Rodhouse says decision to interview Lord #Brittan was taken "in isolation" and before Tom Watson's letter to DPP | DAC Rodhouse says decision to interview Lord #Brittan was taken "in isolation" and before Tom Watson's letter to DPP |
| Commander Rodhouse denies that a letter from Tom Watson resulted in Met review of Lord Brittan case: decision "taken in isolation" | Commander Rodhouse denies that a letter from Tom Watson resulted in Met review of Lord Brittan case: decision "taken in isolation" |
| Updated | |
| at 4.09pm BST | |
| 3.59pm BST | |
| 15:59 | |
| Rodhouse says: “It was right in a case of such prominence to check we had got our decision right. There are a very small number of cases where the public interest is served by having the evidence reviewed.” | Rodhouse says: “It was right in a case of such prominence to check we had got our decision right. There are a very small number of cases where the public interest is served by having the evidence reviewed.” |
| He denies that Brittan faced a different test, police were just ensuring that test was being applied properly. He says he doesn’t agree with DCI Settle’s decision. “My view was that he should have conducted an interview.” He says there were reasonable grounds to suspect an offence had taken place. Other officers reviewing the case came to a different conclusion to Settle, he says. | He denies that Brittan faced a different test, police were just ensuring that test was being applied properly. He says he doesn’t agree with DCI Settle’s decision. “My view was that he should have conducted an interview.” He says there were reasonable grounds to suspect an offence had taken place. Other officers reviewing the case came to a different conclusion to Settle, he says. |
| Rodhouse adds he does not believe the reviewing officer saw Settle’s decision log, but that’s not unusual. The first time Rodhouse looked at the log himself was some weeks ago, after the decision was made to review and appeal the decision. “It was my decision to appeal to the CPS,” he confirms. “This was a case where the facts were not clear cut.” | Rodhouse adds he does not believe the reviewing officer saw Settle’s decision log, but that’s not unusual. The first time Rodhouse looked at the log himself was some weeks ago, after the decision was made to review and appeal the decision. “It was my decision to appeal to the CPS,” he confirms. “This was a case where the facts were not clear cut.” |
| Updated | |
| at 4.10pm BST | |
| 3.52pm BST | |
| 15:52 | |
| Rodhouse says it’s important for the public to know police will investigate an allegation no matter who it is against. | Rodhouse says it’s important for the public to know police will investigate an allegation no matter who it is against. |
| He says in this case the CPS advice was that the jury could be persuaded the incident took place but that Lord Brittan may not have been aware the victim did not consent. But when police spoke to Brittan, he denied that the incident took place altogether, which was used as evidence by the Met. | He says in this case the CPS advice was that the jury could be persuaded the incident took place but that Lord Brittan may not have been aware the victim did not consent. But when police spoke to Brittan, he denied that the incident took place altogether, which was used as evidence by the Met. |
| Vaz says he is asking about procedure, not evidence. | Vaz says he is asking about procedure, not evidence. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.10pm BST | |
| 3.42pm BST | |
| 15:42 | |
| Rodhouse’s comments contradict those of DCI Settle. | Rodhouse’s comments contradict those of DCI Settle. |
| Settle said the decision to interview Lord Brittan was in his opinion a direct result of Watson’s letter to the DPP. The dates speak for themselves, he said. Watson sent the letter and less than a week later a review was launched. | Settle said the decision to interview Lord Brittan was in his opinion a direct result of Watson’s letter to the DPP. The dates speak for themselves, he said. Watson sent the letter and less than a week later a review was launched. |
| But Rodhouse denied that Brittan was interviewed because of Watson’s intervention. He said there were doubts over Settle’s decision on the case and that the Met followed the evidence. | But Rodhouse denied that Brittan was interviewed because of Watson’s intervention. He said there were doubts over Settle’s decision on the case and that the Met followed the evidence. |
| Rodhouse says other inquiries needed to be done after Settle wanted case closed, to say Met had done the job thoroughly | Rodhouse says other inquiries needed to be done after Settle wanted case closed, to say Met had done the job thoroughly |
| Updated | |
| at 4.10pm BST | |
| 3.26pm BST | |
| 15:26 | |
| While there’s a break in the proceedings, it’s worth noting that Conservative members of the commons home affairs select committee have been accused of operating along “party lines” after rejecting calls for Zac Goldsmith to also give evidence. | While there’s a break in the proceedings, it’s worth noting that Conservative members of the commons home affairs select committee have been accused of operating along “party lines” after rejecting calls for Zac Goldsmith to also give evidence. |
| Goldsmith has been criticised by a family member of Lord Brittan and a former Conservative MP after he refused to withdraw claims made in parliament about an alleged paedophile ring in his constituency. Read my colleague Rajeev Syal’s full report on that below. | Goldsmith has been criticised by a family member of Lord Brittan and a former Conservative MP after he refused to withdraw claims made in parliament about an alleged paedophile ring in his constituency. Read my colleague Rajeev Syal’s full report on that below. |
| Related: MPs' committee rejects calls to question Zac Goldsmith over Leon Brittan claims | Related: MPs' committee rejects calls to question Zac Goldsmith over Leon Brittan claims |
| 3.24pm BST | |
| 15:24 | |
| Rodhouse says the majority of delays in the investigation were due to “Lord Brittan’s health”. He also denies that Brittan was interviewed because of Watson’s letter. | Rodhouse says the majority of delays in the investigation were due to “Lord Brittan’s health”. He also denies that Brittan was interviewed because of Watson’s letter. |
| Met Commander Steve Rodhouse refutes his detectives' suggestion that Lord Brittan was interviewed because of Tom Watson intervention | Met Commander Steve Rodhouse refutes his detectives' suggestion that Lord Brittan was interviewed because of Tom Watson intervention |
| 3.18pm BST | |
| 15:18 | |
| Met officers Patricia Gallan, an assistant commissioner, and Steve Rodhouse, a deputy assistant commissioner, are now before the home affairs select committee. | Met officers Patricia Gallan, an assistant commissioner, and Steve Rodhouse, a deputy assistant commissioner, are now before the home affairs select committee. |
| Meanwhile, here are some fuller quotes from DCI Settle: | Meanwhile, here are some fuller quotes from DCI Settle: |
| On the 4th September 2013, following advice I received from the Crown Prosecution Service...regarding police applying what is known as the code test I decided that the investigation should not proceed any further. | On the 4th September 2013, following advice I received from the Crown Prosecution Service...regarding police applying what is known as the code test I decided that the investigation should not proceed any further. |
| My reason for that was that I concluded that any action against Lord Brittan would be grossly disproportionate and would not have a legal basis as in order to interview him we would have to have had reasonable grounds to suspect that an (offence) had been committed. | My reason for that was that I concluded that any action against Lord Brittan would be grossly disproportionate and would not have a legal basis as in order to interview him we would have to have had reasonable grounds to suspect that an (offence) had been committed. |
| The investigation had shown that whilst an allegation had been made, the offence had not been made out in law and as such those reasonable grounds had ceased. | The investigation had shown that whilst an allegation had been made, the offence had not been made out in law and as such those reasonable grounds had ceased. |
| Settle revealed he decided not to interview Lord Brittan about the rape allegation because he feared it would be a “baseless witch hunt”. And he said that the late-peer’s eventual police interview was illegal because he felt it was not within the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). Reading aloud from his log notes which documented why he took the decision, he added: | Settle revealed he decided not to interview Lord Brittan about the rape allegation because he feared it would be a “baseless witch hunt”. And he said that the late-peer’s eventual police interview was illegal because he felt it was not within the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). Reading aloud from his log notes which documented why he took the decision, he added: |
| There is no right of anonymity for persons arrested for sexual offences and furthermore there is considerable media intrusion regarding arrestees. | There is no right of anonymity for persons arrested for sexual offences and furthermore there is considerable media intrusion regarding arrestees. |
| At the moment Lord Brittan is of interest to other aspects of a parallel investigation, and to arrest or interview him now would, I feel, jeopardise any potential inquiries as this would be nothing more than a baseless witch hunt. | At the moment Lord Brittan is of interest to other aspects of a parallel investigation, and to arrest or interview him now would, I feel, jeopardise any potential inquiries as this would be nothing more than a baseless witch hunt. |
| Settle said he did not think there were reasonable, objective grounds for the suspicion of rape based on known facts. He informed Watson of his decision not to interview Lord Brittan and said the MP “didn’t express any concerns whatsoever” at the time. Asked if he was surprised the investigation was reopened after Watson’s letter, he said: | Settle said he did not think there were reasonable, objective grounds for the suspicion of rape based on known facts. He informed Watson of his decision not to interview Lord Brittan and said the MP “didn’t express any concerns whatsoever” at the time. Asked if he was surprised the investigation was reopened after Watson’s letter, he said: |
| If I’m being frank I’m extremely disappointed because I would have thought before doing that I had the type of relationship with him where he could have phoned me to seek clarity, and had I not assured him of that clarity then he was perfectly within his rights to write that letter. | If I’m being frank I’m extremely disappointed because I would have thought before doing that I had the type of relationship with him where he could have phoned me to seek clarity, and had I not assured him of that clarity then he was perfectly within his rights to write that letter. |
| But I was rather shocked. I saw it as a betrayal to be perfectly honest because I thought I’d been frank and honest with him and transparent from the outset. I saw it as a very low blow to be perfectly honest. | But I was rather shocked. I saw it as a betrayal to be perfectly honest because I thought I’d been frank and honest with him and transparent from the outset. I saw it as a very low blow to be perfectly honest. |
| Updated | |
| at 3.20pm BST | |