A corporate witness for MI5 tells the Westminster investigation of the inquiry in a statement: “MI5 was made aware of allegations relating to Peter Morrison in November 1986.” Boothby, who died in 1986, aged 86, was a colourful character, a regular on TV who loved to tell a story. He spoke of meeting Hitler in Germany in 1932. to the absence of any political philosophy, or theme, or policy, adequate to the needs of the time; and She says: “Everybody coped very differently and some didn’t cope well and we’re still seeing the side-effects of that, even now.” Police raided the flat and found 45 volumes of obscene diaries in which Hayman described paedophile fantasies. They discovered that he was a member of the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which promoted sex with children.

John Pearson has argued that Driberg was behind this cover-up: "As an important member of the Labour executive, Driberg had a lot of influence, particularly over Harold Wilson, and he would certainly have used it to encourage Arnold Goodman's rescue operation which would save Boothby and himself. All of which undoubtedly explains why, after the settlement, there was not a squeak in parliament about the case - and why instead there seemed an overwhelming cross-bench willingness to let sleeping dogs, however dirty, lie - and go on lying."come from Scotland. We should have been delighted." He did not smile. Instead he brought his fist down with a crash on the table and said: "So! I had no idea that the hatred between the two peoples was so great." Perhaps this was one of the reasons why he sent Hess to Scotland in 1940, for I am sure that he did; and why he never bombed Edinburgh.

Lord Goodman refused to see me, as did Cecil King and Lord (Hugh) Cudlipp of the Mirror. It was explained to me that when Goodman had made the deal with IPC, he had insisted on a clause forbidding anyone involved from subsequently discussing it in public. But, worried by the prospect of trouble from the politicians, the Commissioner, Sir Joseph Simpson, had chosen to deny it, and from then on there was no real incentive at the Yard to catch the Krays. What Sir Joseph wanted was a quiet life. Startling new evidence, presented here for the first time by the Kray twins' official biographer, shows that an extraordinary establishment cover-up resulted in London's most notorious villains being given the freedom of the city. Thanks to what took place, the Krays became `untouchables', who over four long years were allowed to create the most elaborate crime ring this country has ever seen. If those of us who believe in freedom refuse to fight for our faith under any circumstances, then assuredly we will succumb to the military forces of Fascism or Communism, and most of the things which seem to make life worth living will be swept away. (3) Robert Boothby, letter to Stanley Baldwin (31st January 1934) The damage that was done was so much deeper than any of us could ever have imagined and adult lives are still being horrifically disrupted.”

Colin Peters is a former Foreign Office official and tax barrister, who prosecuted VAT cases for HM Customs & Excise. But I do jib at starving the unemployed. And that is what it amounts to in some districts at the present time. Mark Watts ( @MarkWatts_1) is the co-ordinator of the FOIA Centre. This article was updated on 10.03.19, later on the day of first publication, to add some further details. He has previously been linked to a cover-up of child sexual abuse at Kincora boys’ home in Northern Ireland.