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| Phillip Schofield criticised for paedophile list 'stunt' | Phillip Schofield criticised for paedophile list 'stunt' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Senior politicians have criticised ITV1 presenter Phillip Schofield for handing David Cameron a list of alleged paedophiles during a live interview. | Senior politicians have criticised ITV1 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. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson branded it a "rum piece of journalism" - and Labour's Chuka Umunna said it was "foolish and irresponsible". | London Mayor Boris Johnson branded it a "rum piece of journalism" - and Labour's Chuka Umunna said it was "foolish and irresponsible". |
| TV regulator Ofcom said it had received complaints about the programme. | TV regulator Ofcom said it had received complaints about the programme. |
| The comments come as Conservative peer Lord McAlpine said allegations linking him to alleged historical child abuse were "wholly false and seriously defamatory". | The comments come as Conservative peer Lord McAlpine said allegations linking him to alleged historical child abuse were "wholly false and seriously defamatory". |
| The ex-party treasurer released a statement after a man claimed he had been abused by an unnamed senior politician at a care home in Wrexham, north Wales. | The ex-party treasurer released a statement after a man claimed he had been abused by an unnamed senior politician at a care home in Wrexham, north Wales. |
| In Thursday's This Morning interview, Mr Cameron was being quizzed about historical 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 Thursday's This Morning interview, Mr Cameron was being quizzed about historical 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" and advised anyone with evidence of abuse should go to the police. | 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" and advised anyone with evidence of abuse should go to the police. |
| 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". |
| 'No evidence' | 'No evidence' |
| Boris Johnson said: "I think it was a pretty rum piece of journalism frankly to produce a list in that way without any real substantiation or proper journalistic efforts to get to the bottom of whatever allegations were made about the individuals who might have been named on that bit of paper. | Boris Johnson said: "I think it was a pretty rum piece of journalism frankly to produce a list in that way without any real substantiation or proper journalistic efforts to get to the bottom of whatever allegations were made about the individuals who might have been named on that bit of paper. |
| "I think it was a very curious thing for the producers to allow to happen." | "I think it was a very curious thing for the producers to allow to happen." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio London, Mr Johnson said Mr Cameron had behaved in "a very dignified way and dealt with it very calmly". | Speaking on BBC Radio London, Mr Johnson said Mr Cameron had behaved in "a very dignified way and dealt with it very calmly". |
| Policing Minister Damian Green said Mr Schofield's intervention was a "pretty tasteless and silly stunt". | 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 told BBC One's Question Time. | "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 told BBC One's Question Time. |
| Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna 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." | Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna 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." |
| Conservative MP Rob Wilson has reported the programme to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, urging it to investigate whether ITV1 had breached its duty to give individuals a chance to respond before subjecting them to serious allegations on screen. | Conservative MP Rob Wilson has reported the programme to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, urging it 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. |
| But, in a statement, Lord McAlpine categorically denied all of the allegations and said: "I did not sexually abuse Mr Messham or any other residents of the children's home in Wrexham." | |
| 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. |
| Gay rights campaigners have criticised Mr Cameron's use of language during the interview. | 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," long-standing 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," long-standing 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. |