Former Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell named in sex abuse probe
Police are investigating historic sex abuse claims against former Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell after his name was supplied to officers by a senior Anglican bishop.
He is being investigated as an alleged member of a Westminster paedophile network.
The name of the late Conservative, who made the infamous Rivers of Blood speech, was provided to Scotland Yard after the clergyman came forward with claims from the 1980s relating to 'ritual satanic abuse'.
The claims were passed to police by the Right Reverend Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham, more than a year ago but have only now been made public.
The Rt Rev Butler, who is the lead on safeguarding for the Church of England, contacted police after details of the allegations were passed to him by a fellow clergyman, Dominic Walker, former Bishop of Monmouth.
It is thought the Rt Rev Walker first heard the claims when he was counselling young adults as a curate in the 1980s.
The Metropolitan Police has several ongoing investigations relating to claims against suspected abusers, including the former Liberal MP Cyril Smith. Officers are also investigating allegations against former Home Secretary Leon Brittan.
The claim was originally submitted to Operation Fernbridge, investigating abuse related to the Elm Guest House in London which was allegedly used by powerful figures during the 1970s and 1980s for organised sexual abuse. Fernbridge has now closed but allegations submitted to it remain the subject of other ongoing investigations.
In a statement, the Church of England said: "The name of Enoch Powell was passed to Operation Fernbridge by one of our safeguarding team on the instruction of Bishop Paul Butler."
Multiple claims of satanic abuse were made in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A subsequent inquiry found there was no evidence to substantiate all 86 alleged cases.
It is understood the allegations against Mr Powell, who died in 1998, came from a single individual. Under safeguarding rules, the Church of England now automatically passes allegations of abuse to the police.
Distinguished journalist Simon Heffer, Powell's authorised biographer, said last night that the claims again Powell were 'absolute nonsense' and without foundation.
Scotland Yard last night said it did not name individuals being investigated as part of its ongoing inquiries into the alleged sex rings.
