Harvey Proctor accuses police of 'homosexual witch hunt'

Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, who has twice been questioned by police over historic child sex abuse and murder claims, has accused police of carrying out a "homosexual witch hunt".

Proctor, who was interviewed as part of an inquiry into claims of a VIP paedophile ring operating in the 1970s and 1980s, insists he is "completely innocent".

At a press conference in central London, he told reporters: "I'm a homosexual. I'm not a murderer or a paedophile."

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Proctor, who was an MP for the Essex constituencies of Basildon and then Billericay from 1979 to 1987, suggested that he should be prosecuted immediately so he could "start the process of ridiculing these preposterous allegations in open court".

The claims, which are said to include the "multiple murder of children, their torture, grievous bodily harm, rape and sexual child abuse", are "just about the worst allegations anyone can make against a person", he said.

According to Proctor, the claims are believed to stem from one anonymous complainant, known only as "Nick", whom Proctor said should be prosecuted for seeking to pervert the course of justice, reports the BBC.

"It is so far-fetched as to be unbelievable. It is unbelievable because it is not true," he said.

The former MP was apparently asked by police if he knew eight alleged co-conspirators, including former home secretary Leon Brittan and former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, who are both now dead.

Proctor denied moving in "such circles" and said that he and Heath had "despised" each other.

Proctor, who was interviewed by police in June and then again on Monday, has called on senior Scotland Yard officers to "resign or be sacked" as the catalogue of events has "wrecked" his life.

The Metropolitan Police said it would not be commenting.