Tom Watson gets a tickling from the Home Affairs Committee

Tom Watson, the man who hated Brittan, appeared before the Home Affairs committee this afternoon. In earlier evidence it became clear that the Met was divided on the rape allegations against the late Lord Brittan. Detective Chief Inspector Settle said that to subject him to an interview under caution would have constituted ‘a baseless witch-hunt’. Dep Assist Commissioner Steve Rodhouse disagreed and said it was unusual not to question a rape suspect.

Tom Watson played a role as the victim’s cheerleader. He wrote a letter urging the DPP to ensure that Brittain was quizzed. DCI Settle called Watson’s actions ‘undermining’ and ‘a low blow.’ He said Watson had caused panic in the police. Steve Rodhouse disagreed. He’d seen no panic.

Then Watson was called. Committee chairman Keith ‘Vazza’ Vaz greeted him with a kittenish grin and allowed the committee to bask in the revelation that he had nominated Watson as Labour’s deputy leader.