Paedophile ring link to No10 to be investigated

Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into historic claims of child abuse after an MP alleged a “senior aide of a former prime minister” had links to a member of a paedophile ring.

The Metropolitan Police announced last night that an inquiry, called Operation Fernbridge, was under way into allegations of child abuse in the early 1980s at a guesthouse in Barnes, London.

This follows claims in October last year from Tom Watson MP, who said that a file of evidence used to convict a man, Peter Righton, of importing child pornography in 1992 contained “clear intelligence” of a sex abuse gang.

Speaking at Westminster, he alleged a member of the group had bragged about links with a senior aide to a former PM.

Raising the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Watson said: “The evidence file used to convict paedophile Peter Righton, if it still exists, contains clear intelligence of a widespread paedophile ring.

“One of its members boasts of his links to a senior aide of a former prime minister.

“The leads were not followed up, but if the file still exists. I want to ensure that the Metropolitan Police secure the evidence, re-examine it and investigate clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and Number 10.”