Harvey Proctor urges UK Music to dump Tom Watson as its new chairman

Music executives are understood to be drawing up petition against appointment

Ex-deputy Labour leader will earn a reported £60,000 for 40 days work a year

Sir Cliff Richard and Paul Gambaccini have already slammed the appointment

A former Conservative MP falsely accused of being part of a VIP paedophile ring in Westminster has added his voice to the opposition to Tom Watson taking one of the music industry's top jobs.

Harvey Proctor has joined a string of politicians, music executives and performers urging UK Music to dump the former deputy Labour leader as its new chairman.

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Eyebrows have been raised at what qualifications Mr Watson possesses for the role, which sees him represent record labels, composers, publishers and promoters.

Mr Watson beat 79 other applicants for the job, for which he will receive a reported £60,000 annual salary for 40 days¿ work a year. His appointment has alarmed the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which has directors on UK Music¿s board and organises the Brit Awards and Mercury Prize

Experienced music executives are understood to be planning to draw up a petition against his appointment, while MPs have questioned the suitability of Mr Watson, who helped to propagate the false allegations of a paedophile ring.

Mr Proctor last night told The Mail on Sunday: 'I do not know whether or not Tom Watson has the musical experience to be chair of UK Music.

'What I do know is that his judgment and his public position is not one that UK Music or any other organisation should touch with a barge pole.'

Harvey Proctor (above) has joined a string of politicians, music executives and performers urging UK Music to dump the former deputy Labour leader as its new chairman

Mr Watson was widely criticised for giving credence to the lies of fantasist Carl Beech about a string of establishment figures including Mr Proctor, former Home Secretary Leon Brittan and Normandy veteran Lord Bramall.

Beech was last year jailed for 18 years after he was found guilty of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud.

Mr Watson stood down ahead of last year's General Election, saying he wanted a 'different life'.

David Mellor, the former Culture Secretary and a classical music critic, said: 'I think it's a disgrace that the music industry should appoint a man who hounded my dear friend Leon Brittan to his grave and beyond it.'

Mr Watson beat 79 other applicants for the job, for which he will receive a reported £60,000 annual salary for 40 days' work a year.

His appointment has alarmed the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which has directors on UK Music's board and organises the Brit Awards and Mercury Prize.

Gary Farrow, a former senior executive at Sony Music and ex-BPI committee member, said: 'He [Mr Watson] has the most atrocious background, does not reach the standards our industry requires and he should leave immediately.'

Mr Watson was supported in his bid for the job by Michael Dugher, UK Music's outgoing chief executive and a former Labour MP.

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One music insider said: 'There is a feeling that Michael must have had a lot to do with this.

'If we were to find that this was a Labour-driven appointment, well the music business is not in the political business, so that shouldn't be happening.'

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Top names in the music industry including Sir Tim Rice, Sir Cliff Richard and Paul Gambaccini have already slammed the appointment.

They say Mr Watson's actions over the fictitious Westminster sex ring contributed to a climate of suspicion in which several music industry figures, including Sir Cliff and Mr Gambaccini, were wrongly accused of sexual offences.

Mr Watson was widely criticised for giving credence to the lies of fantasist Carl Beech (pictured above) about a string of establishment figures including Mr Proctor, former Home Secretary Leon Brittan and Normandy veteran Lord Bramall

Radio star Neil Fox, who also battled wrongful allegations of historic sex abuse, said: 'The Carl Beech scandal didn't paint him in a good light. It showed terrible lack of judgment and you want someone who shows great judgment.'

Carol Decker, lead vocalist with chart-topping band T'Pau, said: 'I am astonished every time he pops his head up. I just feel shock and disgust at the appointment.'

A spokesman for UK Music last night insisted Mr Watson's appointment had been fair, adding: 'The appointment was ratified by the UK Music Board in March and welcomed across the music industry.'

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Mr Watson was last night unavailable for comment.