Lord Hogan-Howe, the former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, chaired Operation Midland – the devastating child sex abuse murder investigation that was the brainchild of a fan. Victims of the false allegations have now warned the Prime Minister to pledge not to get involved in choosing the next head of the agency before he steps down. The Telegraph understands that senior Tory MPs have also written to Number 10 demanding that Lord Hogan-Howe not be given the job by Mr Johnson. David Davis, a Tory MP and former shadow home secretary, said it was “common sense” that long-term appointments should now be left to Johnson’s successor.
“Matter of great public interest”
Harvey Proctor, a former Tory MP who was paid £900,000 by police over false allegations of murder, said he was deeply concerned that Mr Johnson planned to go ahead with picking Lord Hogan-Howe for the top job. Mr Proctor said such a move would breach Mr Johnson’s pledge to remain as caretaker leader but step back from making major decisions. In a statement, Mr Proctor said: “It has come to my attention that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in breach of assurances to the Cabinet, intends to go ahead with making a major public appointment – placing Lord Hogan-Howe as director – general of the National Crime Agency. “This is a matter of great public interest and should be of concern to all potential leadership aspirants in the upcoming leadership contest. “On behalf of these innocent people, and their friends and family, of the most outrageous false allegations of child sexual abuse, I demand an immediate commitment from Boris Johnson that no such appointment will take place. “In the deadly atrocity of Boris Johnson’s prime ministership, under no circumstances should Lord Hogan Howe’s friend be appointed director-general of the National Crime Agency.”
