Labour MP Tom Watson put pressure on police investigating false allegations of sex abuse by Westminster VIPs, a report said.
A review found officers probing an allegation of rape against the late former home secretary Lord Brittan were “fearful of media criticism and public cynicism”.
Former High Court Judge Sir Richard Henriques said the case should have been dropped at the very latest after the Tory politician was interviewed under caution.
But he said officers may have been “in a state of panic” over a letter sent by the Labour deputy leader on House of Commons notepaper.
Scotland Yard said the force was not aware of the letter at the time a review of the case was conducted, while Mr Watson said Sir Richard’s report “contains multiple inaccuracies” regarding his involvement.
The force published the findings into Operation Vincente – the investigation into an allegation that Lord Brittan had raped a 19-year-old woman in 1967 – for the first time on Friday.
Sir Richard Henriques’s report said: “There can be no doubt that Tom Watson believed ‘Nick’ and it should be stated that he had previously provided the MPS with information leading to convictions in other cases.
“His interest, however, in both Operation Midland and Operation Vincente created further pressure upon MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) officers.”
Mike Graham spoke with Daniel Janner QC, the son of Lord Janner.
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