Watson claims that he was also a ‘victim’ of lies told by convicted fantasist Beech

Former MP brands Labour deputy a ‘grandstander’ for quoting false allegations, adding he should resign

TOM WATSON insisted yesterday he too was a victim of Carl Beech, in what a falsely accused MP branded a bid to gain sympathy for his mistaken support for the convicted paedophile.

Mr Watson also admitted for the first time yesterday he had been quoting Beech when he accused Lord Brittan of being “as close to evil as a human being could get” just four days after his death.

In a statement, Mr Watson insisted Beech had never named any VIPS in their only meeting. But Mr Watson omitted to mention a series of email exchanges with Beech or that the convicted fantasist had spoken to him in the wake of the former home secretary’s death. Yesterday, Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of murder, child torture and rape by Beech, demanded Mr Watson resign as deputy party leader and as an MP, and that the home affairs select committee should investigate.

Beech, 51, is facing jail after being convicted of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and another of fraud after inventing a Westminster paedophile ring. Police launched an investigation that led to the homes of Field Marshal Lord Bramall, Lord Brittan and Mr Proctor being raided.

Mr Watson’s office admitted yesterday that he had been quoting Beech in an article in January 2015, written for the Sunday Mirror that devastated Lord Brittan’s widow.

Mr Watson’s spokesman, however, insisted the MP had also been a victim because he was duped by Beech. The spokesman said: “He is a victim of Beech. The man is a fraudster and has caused terrible damage. And, of course, to Tom.” Asked if Beech – then known publicly by his pseudonym Nick – had been the so-called survivor quoted by Mr Watson in his attack on Lord Brittan, the spokesman said: “It was Nick. It [the quote] was in an email sent by Nick. After Lord Brittan died, there was one email where he names Lord Brittan. There were [in total] a very small number of email exchanges.”

Mr Watson has declined to speak directly to The Daily Telegraph on the issue although he gave an interview to the BBC, which had also unquestioningly broadcast Beech’s false claims.

Mr Proctor, a former Tory MP, said yesterday: “Tom Watson should not be in Parliament. He is a grandstander out for himself. It is extraordinary that [he] thinks he is a victim of anyone.

“That is an extraordinary and crass comment. It is an outrageous attempt to gain sympathy. [He] tried to portray me and others as paedophiles. But I have not been the one consorting with paedophiles like Beech.”