Leon Brittan rape inquiry: Tom Watson should apologise, says former home secretary's brother

Sir Samuel Brittan accused the Labour MP of making 'unfounded accusations' about his brother

Lord Brittan's family were not told the peer had been cleared before his death in January 2015 (PA)

Leon Brittan's brother has said the Labour deputy leader Tom Watson should apologise after police dropped a rape inquiry against the former home secretary.

Sir Samuel Brittan accused the MP of making "unfounded accusations" which had prompted police to reopen the case against Lord Brittan.

It comes after The Times reported that Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse had written to Lord Brittan's widow to apologise for failing to tell the family the peer had been cleared before his death.

Tory MP Nigel Evans, who was cleared last year of a series of sexual abuse charges in a high-profile court case, added to the calls.

The former Commons deputy speaker said Mr Watson had "set himself up as judge and jury".

"It is really difficult to over-estimate the trauma that that family will have been pushed through," Mr Evans told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"Even when Leon had died, Tom Watson decided to repeat the allegations. It is totally unfounded.

Tom Watson has been a driving force behind the investigation into the so-called 'VIP paedophile ring' (PA)

"As vocal as he was at that time, it is amazing that we have heard nothing from him since the revelation that the allegations were not going to be proceeded with."