It is time to challenge the accusers. Operation Fairbank and many related rumours spring from the decision of Tom Watson MP, now the new deputy leader of the Labour Party, to use parliamentary privilege in 2012 to talk of “a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10”. In January, Mr Watson repeated allegations against Lord Brittan within days of his death and said that those who made them were “sincere”. Does he have factual reason to think such accusations are true? If so, what are his facts? If Operation Midland fails, please will he tell us the whole truth as he sees it, with the evidence. If he does not, he should admit that he should never have spread these horrible claims in the first place.