Why MPs must blow open ‘Nick’ cover-up
AS the clamour grows for police to release the unredacted report into the monstrous ‘Nick’ scandal, the silence of the Home Affairs Select Committee becomes more troubling by the day.
Its chairman Yvette Cooper was happy enough to tour the broadcasting studios yesterday, attacking the Government over its handling of the knife-crime crisis.
Yet when it came to why ‘Nick’ – real name Carl Beech – and his grotesque lies about a VIP paedophile ring were swallowed by Scotland Yard and pursued with such devastating effect on innocent lives, she had nothing to say.
Let’s just consider the enormity of this affair. A former High Court judge – Sir Richard Henriques – has publicly accused Britain’s premier police force of perverting the course of justice. If that doesn’t merit investigation by committee members, what on earth is the point of them?
They have a duty to scrutinise matters of public concern across the field of crime and home affairs. So why the apparent dereliction of that duty?
Could it be because the whole truth could cause even greater embarrassment and damage not only to the Yard, but also to Miss Cooper’s close colleague, Labour deputy leader Tom Watson? He cynically promoted Beech’s malicious falsehoods and used them as a stick with which to beat the Tory establishment.
As a result, Lord Brittan was hounded to his grave, Sir Ted Heath cruelly defamed, and former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor’s life and livelihood ruined. And that great soldier Lord Bramall was treated like a common criminal and had his house – and his world – turned upside down.
If we are to learn anything from this appalling fiasco, ALL the facts must be exposed to the disinfectant of sunlight. No more cover-up. Commons select committees have developed a strong reputation for carrying out bold, independent and non-partisan inquiries. Unless the Home Affairs committee probes this festering scandal (as at least two of its members are urging) that reputation will be hugely tarnished.
And it will seem to many as though Miss Cooper is more interested in protecting her friends than seeing justice done.