MP calls for inquiry into possible paedophile ring link to parliament

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/24/mp-inquiry-paedophile-link-parliament

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A "powerful paedophile network" may have had links to a former prime minister, No 10 and parliament, MPs have been told.

Tom Watson, Labour MP, told the House of Commons there was "clear intelligence" suggesting a notorious group was connected to a former Number 10 aide, during prime minister's questions on Wednesday.

He said the police file relating to Peter Righton, who was convicted in 1992 of importing child pornography from Holland, needed to be re-examined.

"The evidence file used to convict Peter Righton, if it still exists, contains clear intelligence of a widespread paedophile ring," Watson added.

"One of its members boasts of his links to a senior aide of a former prime minister, who says he could smuggle indecent images of children from abroad.

"The leads were not followed up, but if the files still exist, I want to ensure that the Metropolitan police secure the evidence, re-examine it and investigate clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and No 10."

David Cameron said he would look at the case "very carefully and see what the government can do to help".

"You raise a very difficult and complex case and I'm not sure which former prime minister he is referring to. But what I would like to do is to look very carefully in Hansard as to the allegations you have made, the case that you have raised … and to see what the government can do to give you the assurances you seek," the prime minister added.

Watson later expanded on the allegations in his personal blog, saying he had been contacted by a former child protection specialist who was concerned that not all of the leads the police had when investigating Righton were followed up.

"The contact, who has seen the letters, claimed that one paedophile in particular was of great concern. He said that the paedophile, who worked with children, boasted of a key aide to a former PM who could help get hold of indecent images of children," wrote Watson.

"The central allegation was that a large body of material seized in the raid on Righton's home had not been fully investigated. Though Righton was the subject of a BBC profile The Secret Life of a Paedophile, little had been done to follow up the leads from the case. A specialist unit in Scotland Yard had the material which supplemented a wider investigation into organised paedophile rings in children's homes."

The Labour MP said he was not naming the aide.