Heath outcry so sick

There’s been a sickening predictability in the knee jerk response to the Wiltshire Police report into allegations of child abuse by former PM Ted Heath.

Of course, his family have defended his reputation – it is what we would expect. But others have piled in too, pouring scorn on the enquiry with no knowledge of what information police possess, and for no good reason, it appears, than they can’t stomach the idea Heath may have been an abuser.

Chief Constable Mike Veale is not the witchfinder general. He is a highly respected public servant who’s given his life to prosecuting criminals.

If he says he has enough information to have met the legal (that’s legal – not his personal) threshold to pull Ted Heath in for questioning were he still alive, why shouldn’t we believe him?

It may be some alleged victims who contacted police did lie. But, seriously, could all 26 allegations which will now sit on police records be fabricated? I doubt it. Yes, of course some of the alleged victims are “challenged”. But who do we think gets abused? Generally vulnerable kids, often with mental health issues who have a high chance of growing into vulnerable adults, often with mental health issues and a high chance of falling into crime.

None of this is a surprise. Especially that members of the establishment will continue to ensure the weak and vulnerable are rubbished while those in power remain untouchable.