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| Phillip Schofield criticised for paedophile list 'stunt' | Phillip Schofield criticised for paedophile list 'stunt' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Senior politicians have criticised ITV presenter Phillip Schofield for handing David Cameron a list of alleged paedophiles during a live interview. | Senior politicians have criticised ITV presenter Phillip Schofield for handing David Cameron a list of alleged paedophiles during a live interview. |
| Mr Schofield said he had based the list on internet speculation and asked the prime minister to comment on it. | Mr Schofield said he had based the list on internet speculation and asked the prime minister to comment on it. |
| Home Office minister Damian Green said it was a "pretty tasteless and silly stunt" while Labour Chuka Ummuna said it was "foolish and irresponsible". | Home Office minister Damian Green said it was a "pretty tasteless and silly stunt" while Labour Chuka Ummuna said it was "foolish and irresponsible". |
| TV Regulator Ofcom said it had received "a few" complaints about the programme. | TV Regulator Ofcom said it had received "a few" complaints about the programme. |
| The prime minister has said there is a risk of a "witch-hunt" over abuse claims and insisted that anyone who has evidence linking someone to alleged abuse should take it to the police. | The prime minister has said there is a risk of a "witch-hunt" over abuse claims and insisted that anyone who has evidence linking someone to alleged abuse should take it to the police. |
| 'No evidence' | 'No evidence' |
| Speaking on the BBC's Question Time on Thursday, Policing Minister Damian Green said Mr Schofield's intervention was a "pretty tasteless and silly stunt". | Speaking on the BBC's Question Time on Thursday, Policing Minister Damian Green said Mr Schofield's intervention was a "pretty tasteless and silly stunt". |
| "He shouldn't have done it. What the prime minister was warning about was if we start plastering names all over the place, of which there may be no evidence, it may well turn into a witch hunt." | "He shouldn't have done it. What the prime minister was warning about was if we start plastering names all over the place, of which there may be no evidence, it may well turn into a witch hunt." |
| And for Labour, Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Ummuna, told the same programme: "I think what Phillip Schofield did was foolish, stupid and grossly irresponsible. And frankly, rather amateur. It's not what you expect of serious broadcast journalism." | And for Labour, Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Ummuna, told the same programme: "I think what Phillip Schofield did was foolish, stupid and grossly irresponsible. And frankly, rather amateur. It's not what you expect of serious broadcast journalism." |
| After the show, Mr Schofield insisted he had not been accusing anyone of anything and "it is essential that it is understood that I would never be part of any kind of witch-hunt". | After the show, Mr Schofield insisted he had not been accusing anyone of anything and "it is essential that it is understood that I would never be part of any kind of witch-hunt". |
| Conservative MP Rob Wilson has reported the programme to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, urging them to investigate whether ITV1 had breached its duty to give individuals a chance to respond before subjecting them to serious allegations on screen. | |
| It comes as new claims have emerged about the identity of a man alleged to have abused children from care homes in north Wales. | It comes as new claims have emerged about the identity of a man alleged to have abused children from care homes in north Wales. |
| Former resident Steve Messham told the BBC he was abused by a senior politician of the Thatcher era, who was not named. | Former resident Steve Messham told the BBC he was abused by a senior politician of the Thatcher era, who was not named. |
| 'Plastering names' | 'Plastering names' |
| But the Guardian reported on Friday that the alleged abuse was not carried out by the politician. It may have been committed by a relative with the same surname who has since died, the newspaper said. | But the Guardian reported on Friday that the alleged abuse was not carried out by the politician. It may have been committed by a relative with the same surname who has since died, the newspaper said. |
| The prime minister has announced separate inquiries into alleged abuse at Welsh care homes in the 1970s and 1980s and the police investigation at the time, as well as whether the terms of an independent inquiry into the allegations in the late 1990s was too narrow. | The prime minister has announced separate inquiries into alleged abuse at Welsh care homes in the 1970s and 1980s and the police investigation at the time, as well as whether the terms of an independent inquiry into the allegations in the late 1990s was too narrow. |
| In an interview on ITV 1's This Morning on Thursday, Mr Cameron was addressing historic claims of a paedophile ring linked to No 10 when he was unexpectedly handed a list of names by Mr Schofield which the presenter said had been mentioned online as paedophiles. | In an interview on ITV 1's This Morning on Thursday, Mr Cameron was addressing historic claims of a paedophile ring linked to No 10 when he was unexpectedly handed a list of names by Mr Schofield which the presenter said had been mentioned online as paedophiles. |
| Mr Cameron, who did not look at the list, said he was "worried" that speculation about unproven allegations could lead to a "witch-hunt particularly against people who are gay". | Mr Cameron, who did not look at the list, said he was "worried" that speculation about unproven allegations could lead to a "witch-hunt particularly against people who are gay". |
| Politicians from all parties have reacted angrily to the exchange, saying it was an inappropriate way to handle such a sensitive issue. | Politicians from all parties have reacted angrily to the exchange, saying it was an inappropriate way to handle such a sensitive issue. |
| But gay rights campaigners have criticised Mr Cameron's use of language during the interview. | But gay rights campaigners have criticised Mr Cameron's use of language during the interview. |
| "There is no reason why he should link the current scandals with gay people or warn of an anti-gay witch-hunt," longstanding campaigner Peter Tatchell said. | "There is no reason why he should link the current scandals with gay people or warn of an anti-gay witch-hunt," longstanding campaigner Peter Tatchell said. |
| "The current investigations concern paedophilia, not homosexuality." | "The current investigations concern paedophilia, not homosexuality." |
| A string of official inquiries has been launched into child abuse since allegations about the activities of the late BBC television presenter Jimmy Savile surfaced earlier this month. | A string of official inquiries has been launched into child abuse since allegations about the activities of the late BBC television presenter Jimmy Savile surfaced earlier this month. |