Tom Watson's meteoric rise to become Labour's No2 was tarnished by his bid to push police to investigate a VIP paedophile ring that turned out to be completely false.

Mr Watson rose through the ranks from a party activist in the 1990s, to backbench MP for West Bromwich East in 2001 and finally deputy leader in 2015.

But he fell from grace earlier this year when convicted paedophile Carl Beech, also known as 'Nick', was jailed for perverting the course of justice for inventing a fake paedophile ring that falsely smeared a string of high profile Westminster politicians.

He was blasted for 'portraying himself as the victim' after encouraging Beech to go to police and sending hundreds of letters and pieces of so-called 'evidence' to the Met after they launched Operation Midland.

A report by former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, published last month, found the Labour MP had piled pressure on detectives investigating Beech's false claims that several well-known figures, including MPs, were involved in murder and child sexual abuse. Police wasted £2.5million probing the allegations.

Tom Watson's meteoric rise to become Labour's No2 was tarnished by his bid to push police to investigate a VIP paedophile ring that turned out to be completely false

The Labour MP also took a keen interest in a bogus allegation of rape against Lord Brittan, the former home secretary, which was investigated in a parallel Scotland Yard inquiry called Operation Vincente.

Sir Richard's report described officers as being in a 'state of panic' after Mr Watson's intervention.

The two inquiries collapsed without arrests or convictions and Beech was jailed for 18 years for perverting the course of justice among other offences in July.

Mr Watson was forced to apologise for his role in the case, saying he was 'genuinely' sorry to those who fell victim to Beech's lies and their families.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of being a serial child killer by Beech, said this evening he had done his constituents a "great favour" by standing down.

Carl Beech, also known as 'Nick', made a series of false claims

He said: "The next parliament will be a healthier place without him," he told the PA news agency.

Mr Proctor previously said of Mr Watson: 'Watson's words are enormously hurtful. I can see through him. I hope others will.

'He is utterly insensitive to the damage he has caused. Even now he just thinks about himself.'

Also among those accused were Lord Brittan of Spennithorne, a former Tory home secretary who died before the claims against him could be proven false.

A friend of his widow, Lady Brittan, told the Times after the Henriques report was published: 'The extent of Tom Watson's involvement in the witch-hunt of innocent people has been laid bare for all to see.

'His subsequent attempts to distance himself show a complete lack of integrity.

'By misusing his public office to recklessly repeat false allegations, and to characterise himself as a victim, he has shown that he is unfit to hold the office of MP.'

Daniel Janner, the son of the late Labour MP Lord Janner who was another of Beech's victims, accused Mr Watson of being 'partially responsible', claiming he 'applied pressure on the police and should hang his head in shame and resign.'

Addressing the media last month, Mr Watson said: 'I try to remain calm in the face of a sort of media storm right now about it.

'In the early days of these inquiries it was very difficult to deal with the many hundreds of allegations that were almost like a Blue Peter sack of post in my office.

'So I had to put in place systems that I've never had to deal with before – how you share information with the police and how my staff record phone calls, all that kind of stuff, on a very limited budget. So that was quite traumatic.'

He admitted: 'Even back then when I was more intense, I understood I couldn't get too close to the people making the allegations.

'I hate to see people in pain and I genuinely feel very deeply for the people that have had injustices done to them as a result of the failed police inquiries. I really do.

'And I understand why they're angry and I understand why some of their anger is targeted at me.'

Mr Watson claimed he did not want anyone to 'feel sorry' for him because of the backlash.

He added: 'I did my best, and that's all you can do in life.

'So I'm genuinely very, very sorry and I just say I genuinely was trying to do the right thing.'

He tonight resigned from the Labour Party after 35 years in politics, writing in a statement: 'After 35 years in full time politics, I've decided to step down and will be campaigning to overcome the Tory-fuelled public health crisis.

'I'm as committed to Labour as ever. I will spend this election fighting for brilliant Labour candidates and a better future for our country.'