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PIE controversy: Shadow police minister Jack Dromey denies supporting call for age of consent to be lowered to 10 PIE controversy: Hewitt 'Backed Age Of Consent As Low As 10'
(about 1 hour later)
Jack Dromey, the shadow police minister, insisted today he had not supported a call from the civil liberties organisation he chaired for the age of consent to be cut to just ten in certain cases. The former Labour Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt allegedly backed calls for the age of consent to be reduced to as low as 10.
He spoke out after the controversy over the links between the National Council of Civil Liberties (NCCL) and the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) was reignited by a report in The Sun. The allegation came after the controversy over the links between the National Council of Civil Liberties (NCCL) and the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) was reignited by a report in The Sun.
It disclosed that a meeting in February 1976 of the NCCL’s executive committee, which was attended by Mr Dromey and the former Labour Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt, agreed that the council should propose lowering the minimum age for sex to 14, or 10 in certain circumstances. It disclosed that a meeting in February 1976 of the NCCL’s executive committee, which was attended by Ms Hewitt and Jack Dromey, the shadow police minister, agreed that the council should propose lowering the minimum age for sex to 14, or 10 in certain circumstances.
It also emerged that Ms Hewitt’s name was on an NCCL press release a month later which called for a reduction in the age of consent and the legalisation of incest.It also emerged that Ms Hewitt’s name was on an NCCL press release a month later which called for a reduction in the age of consent and the legalisation of incest.
Last night Ms Hewitt broke her silence to apologise for the NCCL’s connection to the paedophile rights group and said that, as general secretary at the time, she took responsibility for mistakes that were made.Last night Ms Hewitt broke her silence to apologise for the NCCL’s connection to the paedophile rights group and said that, as general secretary at the time, she took responsibility for mistakes that were made.
Her comments put pressure on Harriet Harman, the deputy Labour leader, who became the NCCL legal officer in 1978. Ms Harman has expressed regrets over the ties to the “vile” PIE, but said she had nothing to apologise for.Her comments put pressure on Harriet Harman, the deputy Labour leader, who became the NCCL legal officer in 1978. Ms Harman has expressed regrets over the ties to the “vile” PIE, but said she had nothing to apologise for.
In a statement today Mr Dromey, who is Ms Harman’s husband, said he did not support the proposal on the age of consent at the committee meeting and was a “resolute opponent" of the PIE when he became chairman a few weeks later. Jack Dromey said he was a 'resolute opponent' of PIE In a statement today Mr Dromey, who is Ms Harman’s husband, said he did not support the proposal on the age of consent at the committee meeting and was a “resolute opponent" of the PIE when he became chairman a few weeks later.
He said: “I did not agree with the proposal in February 1976 to lower the age of consent.He said: “I did not agree with the proposal in February 1976 to lower the age of consent.
“When elected chairman of NCCL weeks later, I made it clear that my first priority would be to take on the child sex abusers of PIE. I then defeated them by a massive majority at the annual conference in April.“When elected chairman of NCCL weeks later, I made it clear that my first priority would be to take on the child sex abusers of PIE. I then defeated them by a massive majority at the annual conference in April.
“My stand was denounced in a leaflet distributed by PIE to the delegates to the conference. I closed the conference saying that we had to protect children from sexual abuse and that adults guilty of sexual abuse were the lowest of the low. I was throughout a resolute opponent of a vile organisation.”“My stand was denounced in a leaflet distributed by PIE to the delegates to the conference. I closed the conference saying that we had to protect children from sexual abuse and that adults guilty of sexual abuse were the lowest of the low. I was throughout a resolute opponent of a vile organisation.”