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<\/a>Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan has been questioned by police over claims he raped a 19-year-old student.<\/span><\/p>\nThe assault, which he is said to strongly deny, is alleged to have taken place at his Central London flat in 1967 following a blind date.<\/span><\/p>\n Brittan was in his late 20s at the time of the alleged incident.<\/span><\/p>\n Police said last night that the woman originally made a complaint in late 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n It is being investigated by officers from the Metropolitan Police\u2019s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.<\/span><\/p>\n Scotland Yard confirmed that a man in his 70s was \u2018interviewed under caution by appointment at a Central London location in connection with the allegation. He was not arrested. Inquiries continue.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n It is understood Lord Brittan, now 74, was questioned last month at the offices of his lawyers, Mishcon de Reya.<\/span><\/p>\n The Mail on Sunday has been told that the woman initially contacted high-profile Labour MP Tom Watson, who has made allegations of widespread child abuse in Parliament.<\/span><\/p>\n It is believed the detectives who questioned the veteran Conservative politician \u2013 he was made a life peer in 2000 \u2013 are part of Scotland Yard\u2019s Operation Fairbank inquiry team which was launched after Mr Watson\u2019s claims.<\/span><\/p>\n Apparently believing the investigation was not moving quickly enough, the alleged victim, now aged 66, contacted Mr Watson a second time \u2013 and it was soon afterwards that Lord Brittan was formally interviewed.<\/span><\/p>\n Mishcon de Reya did not respond to requests to comment last night. Lord Brittan was also unavailable for comment.<\/span><\/p>\n However, a prominent Westminster journalist has revealed that the peer insisted as long ago as the 1980s when he was Home Secretary that allegations against him of sexual misconduct were untrue.<\/span><\/p>\n Chris Moncrieff, former political editor of the Press Association, told The Mail on Sunday: \u2018I was at a drinks reception attended by Leon Brittan at the height of frenzied rumours about him when one of his officials called me to one side.<\/span><\/p>\n ‘The official said, \u201cThe Home Secretary wishes to speak to you in private.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ‘I was led into a side room where Leon Brittan said to me, \u201cYou do know all these stories about me are totally untrue, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018He didn\u2019t discuss any details but he said he was certain he would be vindicated.\u2019 Lord Brittan\u2019s rise to power was impressive.<\/span><\/p>\n The former barrister contested the constituency of North Kensington twice before becoming an MP in 1974 for Cleveland and Whitby, and then switched his constituency to Richmond in Yorkshire in 1983.<\/span><\/p>\n When he was promoted to become Treasury Chief Secretary, he was the youngest member of the Cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\n Later, as Home Secretary, he was the youngest in that job since Sir Winston Churchill. He quit the Cabinet in 1986 over the Westland helicopter affair.<\/span><\/p>\n Four years ago, he was appointed trade adviser to the Government after David Cameron said he had \u2018unrivalled experience\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n A Labour peer is being investigated by police after 12 men made allegations of historical child abuse against him, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.<\/span><\/p>\n Sources close to the investigation last night said that the \u2018horrific\u2019 allegations include rape and serious sexual assault.<\/span><\/p>\n It is understood the alleged abuse took place over several decades. The Mail on Sunday has chosen not to name the peer being investigated.<\/span><\/p>\n A police spokesman said last night: \u2018A number of individuals have come forward and made complaints to the investigation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018We are thoroughly investigating their allegations and providing them with professional support.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n It is understood that a file containing the accusations has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service. Police also last night confirmed the peer has not been arrested or questioned about the allegations. They refused to comment on the age of the victims when the abuse took place.<\/span><\/p>\n A source close to the investigation said: \u2018These are some of the most horrific child abuse allegations you can imagine.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n Another source said: \u2018The sexual abuse that the peer has been accused of is extremely worrying.<\/span><\/p>\n The allegations are harrowing and must have affected the vulnerable boys significantly in later life.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018It is becoming clear there is a problem with historic sex abuse in Parliament and the police have to be allowed access to all the information needed to investigate these allegations. It is beginning to look like Westminster is above the law. It is important that these allegations are investigated thoroughly.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n The investigation into the peer comes in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal and shocking revelations concerning Cyril Smith, the disgraced Liberal Democrat MP, and Labour links to the Paedophile Information Exchange group, which wanted to legalise sex with children.<\/span><\/p>\nLabour peer accused of 12 attacks on boys<\/h2>\n