Tom Watson apologizes to Lords for promoting false abuse claims | Thomas Watson

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Former Labor Party deputy leader Tom Watson used his maiden speech to the Lords to formally apologize for bringing to light the historic abuse allegations made by Carl Beech, who later emerged to be a serial fantasy.

Lord Watson, who also served as a minister for 18 years as an MP, quit parliament before the 2019 election and was due to join the upper house soon.

However, his peerage was initially refused by the commission which reviews new members of the Lords, reportedly because of his role in seeking action against Beech’s allegations of an alleged murderous VIP pedophile ring in Westminster.

Police had raided the homes of late Tory cabinet minister Leon Brittan, late military leader Lord Bramall, as well as former Tory MP Harvey Proctor over the allegations.

Beech was then jailed for 18 years after a court found he fabricated the allegations. Brittan died in 2015, before being publicly exonerated.

Speaking before the Lords for the first time on Wednesday after being confirmed as a peer, Watson apologized to Brittan’s widow, saying: The first area where I think consensus is always better than disagreement is the police reform.

I unreservedly apologize to Lady Brittan for the role I played in the investigation into child sexual abuse. His experiences led to several recommendations for how the police conduct themselves. I am sorry and I owe it to him to work to achieve these goals in this Chamber in the months and years to come.

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, a Cabinet Office minister, responded by praising Watson’s speech and for the apology he rightly made to Lady Brittan.

Watson is now chairman of industry group UK Music and a problem gambling adviser to betting firm Flutter Entertainment.

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In his address to the Lords, he noted the difference between his experiences there and in the Commons. From the day of the introduction, I was very well received, he says. The doormen, Garter and his team, Black Rod and his team, our clerks, catering staff and IT people have all been kind and professional and it is deeply appreciated.

While several peers have welcomed Watson, some of Brittan’s conservative contemporaries are likely to be less warm. When Watson’s peerage was announced in October, former Tory chancellor and now peer Norman Lamont called it an absolute disgrace and a stain on the Lords.

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