The deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has been urged to resign by victims of Scotland Yard’s botched inquiry

Scotland Yard has been accused of “institutional stupidity” after a damning review of its failings in the investigation of a fictional VIP child sex ring.

The force had not gathered any evidence to corroborate the lies of a fantasist publicly known as “Nick” and later named as Carl Beech before they began investigating his claims, a lawyer for one of the victims of the bogus allegations said.

Sir Richard Henriques, whose report on the Met’s handling of Operation Midland was published this morning, said the force displayed “poor judgment and a failure to accurately evaluate known facts”.

The case of Carl Beech

Today the force today bowed to months of pressure and published a fuller version of the previously heavily redacted Henriques report. It prompted:

• Questions for Steve Rodhouse,