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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sir Cliff Richard: 'I am forever tainted' by false claims | Sir Cliff Richard: 'I am forever tainted' by false claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sir Cliff Richard has told MPs and peers he will be "forever tainted" by the coverage that followed claims of sexual abuse against him. | Sir Cliff Richard has told MPs and peers he will be "forever tainted" by the coverage that followed claims of sexual abuse against him. |
| The singer is suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after a raid on his house was shown on television in 2014. | The singer is suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after a raid on his house was shown on television in 2014. |
| "Had I not been 'named'... I would still have been able to look people in the eye", he told the parliamentarians. | |
| Sir Cliff, 75, is backing a campaign to change the law so sex crime suspects are not named unless they are charged. | Sir Cliff, 75, is backing a campaign to change the law so sex crime suspects are not named unless they are charged. |
| He said: "The TV circus took away from me all hope of ever being what I had been before, a confident and respected artist, and an ambassador for Great Britain. | He said: "The TV circus took away from me all hope of ever being what I had been before, a confident and respected artist, and an ambassador for Great Britain. |
| "Had I not been 'named' worldwide I feel I would still have been able to look people in the eye, and not feel afraid that they might be thinking that there is 'no smoke without fire'. | "Had I not been 'named' worldwide I feel I would still have been able to look people in the eye, and not feel afraid that they might be thinking that there is 'no smoke without fire'. |
| 'Lurid and intrusive' | 'Lurid and intrusive' |
| "Instead, I fear I will forever be tainted by the lurid and intrusive coverage I received. | "Instead, I fear I will forever be tainted by the lurid and intrusive coverage I received. |
| "I have had to bring civil proceedings to obtain redress for these appalling invasions of my privacy by the police and the BBC. But that can never undo all the damage I have suffered. | "I have had to bring civil proceedings to obtain redress for these appalling invasions of my privacy by the police and the BBC. But that can never undo all the damage I have suffered. |
| "It would have been so much better never to have been in this position at all." | "It would have been so much better never to have been in this position at all." |
| Sir Cliff was the subject of a South Yorkshire Police investigation, centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men. | Sir Cliff was the subject of a South Yorkshire Police investigation, centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men. |
| He always denied the allegations, and was never arrested. | He always denied the allegations, and was never arrested. |
| Earlier this year, prosecutors said no charges would be brought. Last month a review confirmed the decision. | Earlier this year, prosecutors said no charges would be brought. Last month a review confirmed the decision. |
| Campaigners for abuse victims say naming suspects encourages people to come forward. | Campaigners for abuse victims say naming suspects encourages people to come forward. |