Labour's Tom Watson has been accused of sparking 'moral panic' (Image: GETTY )
The deputy Labour leader has been accused of generating “smoke without fire” after he made allegations during a 2012 Prime Minister’s Questions when he was a backbench MP. Geoffrey Robertson QC, for former Tory MP Harvey Proctor - whose home was raided under the Metropolitan Police's Operation Midland before the probe closed in 2016 without a single arrest - claimed Mr Watson and "various febrile journalists" had "started a moral panic" over an alleged paedophile ring. Lead counsel to the inquiry Brian Altman QC said a question raised by Mr Watson in the House of Commons in 2012, saying there was "clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10", could be seen as the "catalyst for the establishment of this inquiry".
He told the the Westminster strand of the wide-ranging Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA): "This inquiry was set up following the hysteria in the wake of the Savile scandal, whipped up by Tom Watson and others.
"Unsurprisingly, Mr Watson's question gave rise to considerable public concern.
"Now it will give credence to false accusers. And undermine genuine victims.
"It's a massive, out-of-control waste of money, it's a shameful disgrace, it's contrary to the basic principles of British justice.
Geoffrey Robertson QC arrives at the IICSA hearing building in London (Image: PA )
"Dead people of impeccable character will be presumed guilty.
"And I have to say it is also extremely upsetting for the families of those involved.
The Westminster strand is one of 13 being considered by the inquiry, which was set up in 2015 in the wake of the Savile scandal and amid allegations that a paedophile ring once operated in Westminster.
The inquiry, which is expected to sit for three weeks, will deal with "extremely serious issues" and aims to address "outstanding questions of public concern" related to abuse allegations against people linked to Westminster, Monday's session heard.
Mr Robertson added: “Nobody can object to
