Scrap Watson peerage, Lord Janner’s son tells Corbyn

JEREMY CORBYN is facing an impassioned plea to withdraw the offer of a peerage to Tom Watson over his role in the row about a VIP paedophile ring.

Daniel Janner, whose father Greville was caught up in the false claims, has told Mr Corbyn that honouring the ex-Labour deputy leader would be ‘wrong and inappropriate’.

Carl Beech, also known as Nick, was jailed last July for 18 years for offences including perverting the course of justice over claims he was abused by a VIP paedophile ring. An official report found that Mr Watson had piled pressure on detectives investigating his allegations, including false abuse claims against Labour peer Greville Janner.

The late peer’s barrister son, Daniel, told The Mail on Sunday of his shock at Mr Corbyn’s recommendation and revealed he had written to ask him to withdraw Mr Watson’s name. Mr Janner wrote: ‘He [Watson] was primarily responsible for whipping up the frenzy of false allegations in Westminster in 2012.

‘These allegations have destroyed lives. A peerage would be inappropriate and wrong.’

In a letter to the Lords Appointments Commission, he said: ‘He supported Carl Beech in the making of false allegations against prominent people, including my beloved and innocent late father, Lord Janner.’ Mr Watson surprised colleagues last November by announcing he was standing down for ‘personal, not political reasons.

It also came after ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor, another victim of Beech’s false claims, threatened to challenge him in his seat.

Mr Watson’s spokesman said: ‘It was never Tom’s role to judge whether allegations were true – that was a matter for the police. It was right that police investigated allegations.’