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| Sir Edward Heath was completely asexual, says adviser | Sir Edward Heath was completely asexual, says adviser |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath was "completely asexual", one of his closest advisers has said. | Former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath was "completely asexual", one of his closest advisers has said. |
| Lord Armstrong of Ilminster told the BBC he "never felt a whiff of sexuality about Ted Heath, whether it was in relation to women, men or children". | Lord Armstrong of Ilminster told the BBC he "never felt a whiff of sexuality about Ted Heath, whether it was in relation to women, men or children". |
| Police are investigating historical child sexual abuse claims against Sir Edward who died in 2005 aged 89. | Police are investigating historical child sexual abuse claims against Sir Edward who died in 2005 aged 89. |
| The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation has said it is confident he would be cleared of any wrongdoing. | The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation has said it is confident he would be cleared of any wrongdoing. |
| Close friends | Close friends |
| Lord Armstrong was principal private secretary at Number 10 during Sir Edward's time as Conservative prime minister between 1970 and 1974. | |
| He said the allegations were "so totally uncharacteristic and unlikely" that he did not believe them to be true. | He said the allegations were "so totally uncharacteristic and unlikely" that he did not believe them to be true. |
| "My incredulity is based on the way of life of a man and about his character and his personality," he told Radio 4's Today Programme. | "My incredulity is based on the way of life of a man and about his character and his personality," he told Radio 4's Today Programme. |
| "When he was at home he had two policemen on the gate, he had the personal protection officer from Scotland Yard in the house, he never drove a car himself, he always had an official driver. | "When he was at home he had two policemen on the gate, he had the personal protection officer from Scotland Yard in the house, he never drove a car himself, he always had an official driver. |
| "It just seems to me highly unlikely that he could have escaped all that to do the kind of thing that is described." | "It just seems to me highly unlikely that he could have escaped all that to do the kind of thing that is described." |
| He added: "I knew him for 35 years, I worked very closely with him while he was prime minister, and we remained friends for the rest of his life. | He added: "I knew him for 35 years, I worked very closely with him while he was prime minister, and we remained friends for the rest of his life. |
| "You usually detect some sense of sexuality when you are friends or work closely with them. I think he was completely asexual. There are some people like that and I think he was one of them." | "You usually detect some sense of sexuality when you are friends or work closely with them. I think he was completely asexual. There are some people like that and I think he was one of them." |
| Heath investigations | Heath investigations |
| Historical child abuse: Key investigations | Historical child abuse: Key investigations |
| At least seven police forces are carrying out investigations linked to abuse claims involving Sir Edward. | At least seven police forces are carrying out investigations linked to abuse claims involving Sir Edward. |
| Operation Hydrant, a national operation co-ordinating inquiries into historical abuse, has been liaising with forces which received information concerning him. | Operation Hydrant, a national operation co-ordinating inquiries into historical abuse, has been liaising with forces which received information concerning him. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it would look at whether officers at Wiltshire Police failed to pursue allegations made against him. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it would look at whether officers at Wiltshire Police failed to pursue allegations made against him. |
| A retired detective has alleged that claims were made in the 1990s but not followed up. | A retired detective has alleged that claims were made in the 1990s but not followed up. |
| Sir Edward lived in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for many years and died at his home there. | Sir Edward lived in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for many years and died at his home there. |