Blair would not have denied Janner a peerage despite child abuse claims
Tony Blair would not have deemed allegations of child sexual abuse involving former Labour MPG reville Janne ra reason to prevent him being appointed to the House of Lords, an inquiry has heard.
The former Prime Minister said he “would have known” about the claims made against Lord Janner by disgraced care home boss Frank Beck during his trial for historical abuse in Leicestershire when he put for ward Lord Janner's name for a peerage in 1997, weeks after he swept to power.
But he told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) that he was also aware that the allegations had been investigated by police and that Lord Janner himself “vigorously denied” them.
Lord J ann er died in 2015 facing 22 charges of historical sexual abuse.
In a statement read to the inquiry yesterday, Mr Blair said :“In 1997 I would have known of the allegations made in 1991 in respect of Lord Janner by Frank Beck during his trial.
“As regards the nomination, I would expect such allegations to be considered [by the political honours scrutiny committee) as part of that process.
“In the circumstances of Lord Janner's vigoro us public denial, a police investigation, and charges not being brought, I do not believe the allegations would have been investigated further beyond confirming those facts, nor that I would have considered them a bar to the nomination.
“At this distance, I am unable to specifically identify any particular failing or shortcoming that I was personally responsible for in my capacity as leader of the Labour party or as prime minister.”
He added: “In those circumstances, and without the further information we have now, it is not clear how the process in 1997 could have reached a different position.”
He was not questioned as it was a closed session.
The latest strand of the wideranging inquiry is due to conclude on Friday after three weeks of evidence about how the police, prosecutors and care home staff responded to historical allegations that Lord Janner abused vulnerable children.
A report in 2016 found that failures by police and prosecutors meant three chances were missed to charge Lord Janner, in 1991, 2002 and 2007.