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| Leon Brittan's widow hits out at MPs and police over abuse claims | Leon Brittan's widow hits out at MPs and police over abuse claims |
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| Lord Brittan’s widow has called for MPs to stop using parliamentary privilege to highlight unproved sex abuse claims after the decision to drop a murder and paedophile inquiry into her late husband. | Lord Brittan’s widow has called for MPs to stop using parliamentary privilege to highlight unproved sex abuse claims after the decision to drop a murder and paedophile inquiry into her late husband. |
| Lady Diana Brittan has also called for police to explain their conduct during Operation Midland, the 16-month investigation into a VIP child abuse ring, which ended without a single arrest. | Lady Diana Brittan has also called for police to explain their conduct during Operation Midland, the 16-month investigation into a VIP child abuse ring, which ended without a single arrest. |
| Her remarks came two days after Scotland Yard confirmed it had found no evidence against the peer. He had been accused, on the basis of the testimony of a single witness, of being part of a child abuse gang during the 1970s and 80s. | Her remarks came two days after Scotland Yard confirmed it had found no evidence against the peer. He had been accused, on the basis of the testimony of a single witness, of being part of a child abuse gang during the 1970s and 80s. |
| During the investigation, police raided Lady Brittan’s home six weeks after her husband died. | During the investigation, police raided Lady Brittan’s home six weeks after her husband died. |
| It is understood the London mayoral hopeful Zac Goldsmith and Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, have angered members of Brittan’s family for remarks they made that implied that he was a sex offender. | It is understood the London mayoral hopeful Zac Goldsmith and Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, have angered members of Brittan’s family for remarks they made that implied that he was a sex offender. |
| In a statement, Lady Brittan said: “I would urge the House of Commons to consider examining the use of parliamentary privilege in these sorts of cases. | In a statement, Lady Brittan said: “I would urge the House of Commons to consider examining the use of parliamentary privilege in these sorts of cases. |
| “It was extremely painful for me and my family to witness Leon’s good name dragged into the public domain and I feel that using parliamentary privilege to publicise opinions that are not based on fact is a serious abuse of public office.” | “It was extremely painful for me and my family to witness Leon’s good name dragged into the public domain and I feel that using parliamentary privilege to publicise opinions that are not based on fact is a serious abuse of public office.” |
| In a speech on the floor of the house in November 2014, Goldsmith told MPs there had been a cover-up of abuse involving establishment figures including a former cabinet minister, whom he did not name, but who was identified on social media as Leon Brittan. | In a speech on the floor of the house in November 2014, Goldsmith told MPs there had been a cover-up of abuse involving establishment figures including a former cabinet minister, whom he did not name, but who was identified on social media as Leon Brittan. |
| He told a hushed House of Commons that a child protection campaigner from the National Association of Young People in Care had spoken to a former co-owner of Elm Guest House in Richmond, south-west London, and obtained important claims. | He told a hushed House of Commons that a child protection campaigner from the National Association of Young People in Care had spoken to a former co-owner of Elm Guest House in Richmond, south-west London, and obtained important claims. |
| “[The campaigner] said he had been told by [the co-owner] that boys had been brought in from a local children’s home – Grafton Close, also in Richmond – for sex, and that she had photographs of establishment figures at her hotel. One of them apparently showed a former cabinet minister in a sauna with a naked boy,” he said. | “[The campaigner] said he had been told by [the co-owner] that boys had been brought in from a local children’s home – Grafton Close, also in Richmond – for sex, and that she had photographs of establishment figures at her hotel. One of them apparently showed a former cabinet minister in a sauna with a naked boy,” he said. |
| The child protection campaigner was later revealed by BBC’s Panorama to be Chris Fay, a convicted fraudster. Police have not been able to stand up his claims that there was a VIP paedophile ring at Elm Guest House. | The child protection campaigner was later revealed by BBC’s Panorama to be Chris Fay, a convicted fraudster. Police have not been able to stand up his claims that there was a VIP paedophile ring at Elm Guest House. |
| Watson angered the Brittan family after at first highlighting claims of an alleged paedophile ring in 2012 and later referring to Lord Brittan as “evil” following his death. The MP for West Bromwich East has since sent a handwritten apology to Lady Brittan for using the phrase but has not apologised for raising the claim. | Watson angered the Brittan family after at first highlighting claims of an alleged paedophile ring in 2012 and later referring to Lord Brittan as “evil” following his death. The MP for West Bromwich East has since sent a handwritten apology to Lady Brittan for using the phrase but has not apologised for raising the claim. |
| A family friend of Lady Brittan said: “Leon being traduced by Tom Watson was especially upsetting for the family. He never apologised for what he did – he merely apologised for his choice of words. | A family friend of Lady Brittan said: “Leon being traduced by Tom Watson was especially upsetting for the family. He never apologised for what he did – he merely apologised for his choice of words. |
| “On the day Leon died, he actually tweeted: ‘RIP Leon Brittan? Hmmmm’. The man has no shame.” | “On the day Leon died, he actually tweeted: ‘RIP Leon Brittan? Hmmmm’. The man has no shame.” |
| On Wednesday, Lady Brittan issued a statement expressing her relief that his reputation had been restored. | On Wednesday, Lady Brittan issued a statement expressing her relief that his reputation had been restored. |
| “We are pleased that the rest of the world now knows for sure what I, my family and Leon’s friends have always known – that he was a dedicated public servant, a devoted family man – and innocent. It is just sad for us that he is not alive to see his good name restored and that he died with these allegations hanging over him,” she said. | “We are pleased that the rest of the world now knows for sure what I, my family and Leon’s friends have always known – that he was a dedicated public servant, a devoted family man – and innocent. It is just sad for us that he is not alive to see his good name restored and that he died with these allegations hanging over him,” she said. |
| She continued: “I believe that the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] and its leadership have many outstanding questions to answer with regard to the conduct and strategic direction of [Operation] Midland and indeed the earlier investigation.” | She continued: “I believe that the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] and its leadership have many outstanding questions to answer with regard to the conduct and strategic direction of [Operation] Midland and indeed the earlier investigation.” |
| Lady Brittan said her family believed that any inquiry into Operation Midland needed to answer questions over how the names of the accused made their way into the public domain, why the homes of people who had already died were searched, and why the investigations took so long. | Lady Brittan said her family believed that any inquiry into Operation Midland needed to answer questions over how the names of the accused made their way into the public domain, why the homes of people who had already died were searched, and why the investigations took so long. |
| Lady Brittan’s home was raided by more than 20 police officers from Operation Midland six weeks after her husband died. Police did not explain the exact nature of the allegations against her husband and took away computer hard drives and diaries after searching their home, it is understood. | Lady Brittan’s home was raided by more than 20 police officers from Operation Midland six weeks after her husband died. Police did not explain the exact nature of the allegations against her husband and took away computer hard drives and diaries after searching their home, it is understood. |
| Conducted over many hours, the search was traumatic for a lone and grieving widow, a family friend said. | Conducted over many hours, the search was traumatic for a lone and grieving widow, a family friend said. |
| “She was in a state of shock and still getting over [Lord Brittan’s death]. It was like being bashed on the head,” the friend said. | “She was in a state of shock and still getting over [Lord Brittan’s death]. It was like being bashed on the head,” the friend said. |
| On Monday, the Met finally admitted it had found no evidence to support claims that a string of establishment figures was responsible for killing three boys in the 1970s and 80s. | On Monday, the Met finally admitted it had found no evidence to support claims that a string of establishment figures was responsible for killing three boys in the 1970s and 80s. |
| The force’s embarrassing admission, after a 16-month inquiry that cost more than £2m and ruined the lives and reputations of several distinguished public figures, came as it closed the investigation. | The force’s embarrassing admission, after a 16-month inquiry that cost more than £2m and ruined the lives and reputations of several distinguished public figures, came as it closed the investigation. |
| Last month, Hogan-Howe made a “full” personal apology to Lady Brittan for pursuing a separate rape claim against the late former home secretary. | Last month, Hogan-Howe made a “full” personal apology to Lady Brittan for pursuing a separate rape claim against the late former home secretary. |
| A source close to Watson said he had never made sex abuse allegations against Brittan or any other politician using parliamentary privilege. | A source close to Watson said he had never made sex abuse allegations against Brittan or any other politician using parliamentary privilege. |