Pressure grows for Tom Watson to lose music job

February 11, 2021

Pressure grows for Tom Watson to lose his high-ranking music job as fallout from false ‘VIP paedophile ring’ claim rages on

One singer questioned how the former MP could have any ‘credibility’ in his role
Carol Decker, of 80s chart-toppers T’Pau said it ‘stinks like rotting fish’
Mike Batt said it was mistake for UK Music to ‘even to entertain him as candidate’

Leading musicians last night called for Tom Watson to step aside from his role as chairman of UK Music over his involvement in the VIP paedophile inquiry.

Concerns over the former Labour deputy leader’s position grew yesterday after Lord Brittan’s widow spoke out about the devastating impact of his involvement in false claims made against her late husband.

Lady Brittan said Mr Watson had carried out ‘the most despicable thing I think a human being could do to another’ by joining the accusers.

One singer questioned how the former MP could have any ‘credibility’ in his role at the industry group given his ‘disgraceful and overly eager support’ of sick fantasist Carl Beech.

Carol Decker, of 80s chart-toppers T’Pau, said she and fellow musicians had questioned Mr Watson’s suitability even without the Beech scandal.

Leading musicians last night called for Tom Watson to step aside from his role as chairman of UK Music over his involvement in the VIP paedophile inquiry

‘It stinks like a rotting fish,’ she added.

‘And after his disgraceful and overly eager support for the totally discredited Carl Beech how can he have any credibility in the position and do any good whatsoever for the membership?

‘Who would want to deal with him? His position as chair makes no sense on any level morally or actually.’

Mike Batt, who was behind The Wombles pop group and wrote the number one Bright Eyes, said it was a mistake for UK Music to ‘even to entertain him as a candidate’.

He added: ‘It was a risk too far to bring him into this position and I do hope that UK Music sees sense and takes this opportunity and this moment to ask Mr Watson to step down or that Mr Watson might even have the decency to resign.’

Mitch Murray, whose songs include How Do You Do It? for Gerry and the Pacemakers, said he considered Mr Watson ‘unsuitable’ to chair the music body.

Lady Brittan said Mr Watson had carried out ‘the most despicable thing I think a human being could do to another’ by joining the accusers

The criticism comes amid broader concerns over the way the job was awarded to Mr Watson, the former shadow culture secretary, last year.

It has been suggested that Mr Watson’s support for Beech, who was jailed for his lies as well as for child sex offences, helped create an environment in which figures such as Radio 2 host Paul Gambacinni and Cliff Richard were falsely accused.

Daniel Janner QC founded FAIR, Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform, after his late father Lord Janner was wrongly accused by Beech.

He said the pressure group’s key supporters, including Sir Cliff, ‘can’t comprehend that Tom Watson remains in his role at UK Music’.

‘He is representing people who have been severely wronged,’ he said. ‘His position has become untenable in that organisation.’

Lady Brittan yesterday used an interview with the Daily Mail to accuse Mr Watson of being ‘despicable’ and ‘a coward’ for making false sex abuse allegations against her husband in a newspaper column just three days after he died.

A UK Music spokesman said: ‘Tom Watson is focused on getting the music industry back on its feet and fighting for greater support for the thousands of musicians, creators and many others who have been unable to work for a year due to the devastating impact of Covid-19.’

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