Tom Watson Offers Partial Apology for Lord Brittan Allegations

Mr Watson pointed out he had said sorry at the time that the allegations would hurt Lord Brittan’s family, but insisted making them public had been the right course of action.

Lord Brittan’s brother, Sir Samuel Brittan, previously called for an apology from the Labour MP after police dropped a rape inquiry against the former home secretary – who died earlier this year.

But writing on the Huffington Post website, Mr Watson outlines his belief that he acted appropriately.

“I shouldn’t have repeated such an emotive phrase”, Mr Watson said.

‘I chose the first option. “I felt it was my duty”.

However in the partial apology, Mr Watson stated that he is sorry for the distress he caused to the Brittan family since he only wanted the claims “properly investigated”.

Sir Samuel Brittan, Lord Brittan’s brother said Tom Watson should “apologise to my sister-in-law [Lady Brittan] for making unfounded accusations against my brother”.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse wrote a letter to the lawyers of Lady Brittan in which he admits “clarity should have been provided” with regards to the dropping of the allegation against the former Conservative MP.

Lord Brittan died of cancer in January this year, unaware that police had decided there was insufficient evidence for him to answer claims that he raped a 19-year-old student in 1967. “And he should apologise in public as well”. Mr. Brittan passed away in January at the age of 75.

Lord Lamont, a friend of Lord Brittan, said aspects of the case were “beyond satire”. As with Cliff Richard …

A spokesperson for the BBC dismissed the claims and said the report was “important and fair investigative journalism that rightly asks legitimate questions about the conduct of the police, journalists, campaigners and politicians in handling historic allegations of child abuse”.

“People come before us and they all appear credible. But I believe the people I’ve spoken to are honest”.

A blog post said: ‘Sources close to the police have told me that Leon Brittan was named by a child linked to the raid [on Elm Guest House in South-West London in 1982].

The deputy Labour leader was responding to demands that he apologise for what Liberal Dem peer Lord Lester described as a “cowardly attack” on Lord Brittan, in the wake of increasing doubt over the legitimacy of the claims. And I’ve spoken to a man who was a child when he says Brittan raped him. This was an extremely painful time for his wife.