Scotland Yard has apologised to the widow of former Home Secretary Leon Brittan after police failed to clear him of a false historic rape claim.

Three years ago a former Labour activist with severe mental health issues accused Lord Brittan of raping her in 1967.

Lord Brittan died aged 75 in January after repeatedly denying any wrongdoing.

In June last year the former leading Conservative politician was forced to explain what he knew about concerns over suspected paedophilia in Westminster in the 1980s when he was Home Secretary.

He was questioned by police following the rape allegation, which he said was “wholly without foundation”.

Labour MP Tom Watson, now deputy leader of the party, had encouraged police to reinvestigate the case after the Crown Prosecution Service ruled that there was no evidence against the terminally ill Peer.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse wrote to the Brittan family’s lawyer, former JC chairman Anthony Julius, this week to apologise for the distress caused.

He wrote: “I am able to confirm that unless further evidence had become available no further action would have been taken in respect of this allegation.

“I do recognise that this clarity should have been provided at an earlier stage.

“I apologise for any distress that this has caused to Lady Brittan.”

Lord Brittan's brother, the financial writer Sir Samuel Brittan, accused the police of "outrageous treatment" and called on Mr Watson to apologise for urging police to reopen the case.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, should also offer a personal apology to the late Peer's family.

Lord Brittan was once one of five Jewish cabinet members in Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government.

Following his death his family saluted his “extraordinary commitment to British public life as a member of parliament, minister, cabinet minister, European Commissioner and peer - together with a distinguished career in law, and latterly in business”.