TORIES IN TURMOIL / The Press: Waller attacks 'harassment' after admitting he has son

THE Conservative MP for Keighley, Gary Waller, who has admitted that he is the father of an illegitimate son, yesterday protested about alleged harassment, threats and intrusion by representatives of the People newspaper, which printed the story.

The boy's mother, Fay Stockwell, a secretary, works for Sir Marcus Fox, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs.

Mr Waller, 48, said yesterday: 'As claimed in the People, I am the father of Jonathan Stockwell, who is now aged six-and-a-half. Many of the other claims in the newspaper are, however, wrong or misleading.

'During the last few days I have been appalled at the behaviour of representatives of the People newspaper who have threatened Fay Stockwell . . , used subterfuge to impersonate a health authority officer seeking information and offered money to relatives in New Zealand for a picture of Jonathan, as well as harassing elderly parents.'

The People's news editor, Tom Petrie, said: 'Mr Waller was given ample opportunity to explain himself. Perhaps instead of being a devious prat he should have given a straight reply to the questions we put to him over several days.'