UK: Did PM's adviser try to stop MP linking Brittan to claims of child sex abuse?

Former Solicitor General Sir Edward Garnier

One of David Cameron’s former legal advisers was accused yesterday of trying to discourage a Labour MP from naming Lord Brittan over child abuse allegations.

Simon Danczuk, the campaigning Rochdale MP, claimed Sir Edward Garnier spoke to him before he was due to give evidence to a committee of MPs this summer.

Mr Danczuk said Sir Edward – who was Solicitor General from 2010 to 2012 – said that ‘challenging Lord Brittan on child abuse would not be a wise move’.

The MP made the claims in a Commons debate under Parliamentary privilege, meaning he cannot be sued for libel or face other legal action over what he said.

The debate, about the progress of the Government’s overarching inquiry into the handling of child sex abuse allegations by public bodies, also heard from Tory MP Zac Goldsmith who repeated claims that a former Cabinet minister was photographed with a naked boy in the sauna of a guesthouse at the centre of historic child sex abuse allegations.  (more...)

Did PM's adviser try to stop MP linking Brittan to claims of child sex abuse?

Further revelations:

Ex cabinet minister was photographed in sauna with naked boy at notorious guest house where children were 'brought in for sex', MP tells Parliament