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| David Cameron warns of 'witch-hunt' over child abuse claims | David Cameron warns of 'witch-hunt' over child abuse claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron fears a "witch-hunt" against gay people as a result of child abuse allegations circulating online. | David Cameron fears a "witch-hunt" against gay people as a result of child abuse allegations circulating online. |
| The prime minister made his comment after being unexpectedly handed a list of names on ITV1's This Morning, which the presenter said were being mentioned online as paedophiles. | |
| The PM, who did not look at the names, said anyone with any information about paedophiles should go to the police. | |
| He was addressing historic claims of a paedophile ring linked to No 10. | He was addressing historic claims of a paedophile ring linked to No 10. |
| The issue was raised by Labour MP Tom Watson in the Commons a fortnight ago. | The issue was raised by Labour MP Tom Watson in the Commons a fortnight ago. |
| There have also since been claims by a victim that an unnamed prominent Conservative politician from the Thatcher era was involved in abuse in north Wales. | There have also since been claims by a victim that an unnamed prominent Conservative politician from the Thatcher era was involved in abuse in north Wales. |
| Presenter Phillip Schofield told the prime minister that there were lots of allegations circulating online about people who might have carried out abuse. | Presenter Phillip Schofield told the prime minister that there were lots of allegations circulating online about people who might have carried out abuse. |
| Online gossip | Online gossip |
| Mr Cameron said that he had heard "all sorts of names being bandied around". | Mr Cameron said that he had heard "all sorts of names being bandied around". |
| During the live interview, the presenter handed the PM a card with the names on it, saying that they were people Mr Cameron knew and asking whether he would be talking to them. | During the live interview, the presenter handed the PM a card with the names on it, saying that they were people Mr Cameron knew and asking whether he would be talking to them. |
| Mr Cameron replied with a warning: "There is a danger, if we're not careful, that this could turn into a sort of witch-hunt, particularly against people who are gay and I'm worried about the sort of thing you are doing right now - giving me a list of names that you've taken off the internet." | Mr Cameron replied with a warning: "There is a danger, if we're not careful, that this could turn into a sort of witch-hunt, particularly against people who are gay and I'm worried about the sort of thing you are doing right now - giving me a list of names that you've taken off the internet." |
| Mr Cameron said that if anyone had any information about anyone who was a paedophile "no matter how high up in British society they are - that's what the police are for". | Mr Cameron said that if anyone had any information about anyone who was a paedophile "no matter how high up in British society they are - that's what the police are for". |
| Downing Street sources said Mr Cameron's fears about a "witch-hunt" were prompted by his objection to online gossip associating homosexuality with paedophilia. | Downing Street sources said Mr Cameron's fears about a "witch-hunt" were prompted by his objection to online gossip associating homosexuality with paedophilia. |
| A senior aide to the prime minister said blameless people who were not connected to any child abuse investigations currently being carried out were being targeted by online gossip. | A senior aide to the prime minister said blameless people who were not connected to any child abuse investigations currently being carried out were being targeted by online gossip. |
| It was "important allegations are handled properly - and people's reputations are not unnecessarily smeared", added the source. | It was "important allegations are handled properly - and people's reputations are not unnecessarily smeared", added the source. |
| A string of official inquiries have been launched into child abuse allegations since revelations about the activities of BBC television star Jimmy Savile. | A string of official inquiries have been launched into child abuse allegations since revelations about the activities of BBC television star Jimmy Savile. |
| Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May announced a new police inquiry into allegations of child abuse in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s. | Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May announced a new police inquiry into allegations of child abuse in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Separately, Mrs Justice Macur will investigate the terms of the Waterhouse abuse inquiry, which began in 1996. | Separately, Mrs Justice Macur will investigate the terms of the Waterhouse abuse inquiry, which began in 1996. |
| The Conservative Party has confirmed it is investigating reports linking one of Margaret Thatcher's former close aides to the allegations. | The Conservative Party has confirmed it is investigating reports linking one of Margaret Thatcher's former close aides to the allegations. |
| Child protection charity the NSPCC has called on the government to commit to an over-arching "lessons learned" review to pull together the findings from all the current inquiries into child abuse, once they are completed. | Child protection charity the NSPCC has called on the government to commit to an over-arching "lessons learned" review to pull together the findings from all the current inquiries into child abuse, once they are completed. |