View source for Tom Watson, Baron Watson of Wyre Forest

{{Short description|British politician (born 1967)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = The Lord Watson of Wyre&nbsp;Forest
| image               = Lord Tom Watson of Wyre Forest, 2023.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2023
| office              = [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]]
| leader              = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
| term_start          = 12 September 2015
| term_end            = 13 December 2019
| predecessor         = [[Harriet Harman]]
| successor           = [[Angela Rayner]]
| office1             = [[Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office|Minister of State for Digital Engagement and Civil Service Issues]]
| primeminister1      = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start1         = 25 January 2008
| term_end1           = 5 June 2009
| predecessor1        = [[Gillian Merron]]
| successor1          = [[Dawn Butler]]
| office2             = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans]]
| primeminister2      = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start2         = 5 May 2006
| term_end2           = 6 September 2006
| predecessor2        = [[Don Touhig]]
| successor2          = [[Derek Twigg]]
| office3             = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Temporal]]
| status3             = [[Life peer]]age
| term_start3         = 21 November 2022
| office4             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[West Bromwich East]]
| term_start4         = 7 June 2001
| term_end4           = 6 November 2019
| predecessor4        = [[Peter Snape]]
| successor4          = [[Nicola Richards]]
{{collapsed infobox section begin
| last                = yes
| [[Government whip]] offices
| titlestyle          = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed               = yes
| subterm             = 2007–2008
| suboffice           = [[Whip (politics)|Assistant Whip]]
| subterm1            = 2005–2006
| suboffice1          = [[Lord Commissioner of the Treasury|Lord Commissioner]]
| subterm2            = 2004–2005
| suboffice2          = [[Whip (politics)|Assistant Whip]]
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin
| last                = yes
| [[Shadow cabinet]] portfolios
| titlestyle          = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed               = yes
| subterm             = 2016–2019
| suboffice           = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport|Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]]
| subterm1            = 2015–2017
| suboffice1          = [[Chair of the Labour Party (UK)|Party Chair]]
| subterm2            = 2015–2016
| suboffice2          = [[Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office|Cabinet Office]]
| subterm3            = 2011–2013
| suboffice3          = [[Chair of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Party Chair]]
| subterm4            = 2011–2013
| suboffice4          = [[Labour Party (UK)|National Campaign Coordinator]]
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_name          = Thomas Anthony Watson
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1967|1|8|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Sheffield]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England
| party               = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Siobhan Corby|2000|2012|end=sep}}
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = [[University of Hull]]
| signature           = Tom Watson politician signature.svg
}}
'''Thomas Anthony Watson, Baron Watson of Wyre Forest''' (born 8 January 1967) is a British politician who served as [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] from 2015 to 2019. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|House of Lords]] since 2022, he was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[West Bromwich East]] from 2001 to 2019.

Born in [[Sheffield]], Watson was raised in [[Kidderminster]], where he was educated at [[King Charles I School]]. He first became involved in Labour Party and trade-union activism while studying at the [[University of Hull]] and was chair of the [[National Organisation of Labour Students]] from 1992 to 1993. After working in marketing and advertising, he began working full-time for the Labour Party, including on its [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] campaign, and then for the [[Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union]].

Elected MP for [[West Bromwich East]] at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], Watson was [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans]] from May to September 2006 and [[Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office]] from 2008 to 2009. In October 2011, [[Ed Miliband]] appointed him as the Labour Party's national campaign coordinator and [[Chair of the Labour Party (UK)|deputy chair]]. He resigned from both roles in July 2013, following a controversy over the [[2013 Labour Party Falkirk candidate selection|selection of a new parliamentary candidate for Falkirk]].

On 12 September 2015, [[2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election|Watson was elected]] as [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] alongside the new [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|leader]], [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. Following the conviction of [[Carl Beech (criminal)|Carl Beech]] in July 2019 for making false allegations of paedophilia, Watson was criticised by high-profile victims and their relatives for his role in the affair, known as [[Operation Midland]].

In November 2019, Watson announced that he would not seek re-election as an MP at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]] and also that he would also resign as deputy leader of the Labour Party stating that his reasons for doing so were "personal, not political". He later revealed that he had voted for [[Owen Smith]] in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2016 leadership election]]. In March 2020, he was appointed chair of [[UK Music]] and later that year was made a senior adviser on problem gambling to [[Flutter Entertainment]].

==Early life and career==
Watson was born in [[Sheffield]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], and educated at [[King Charles I School]], [[Kidderminster]], although he left before completing his A-Levels.{{cn|date=July 2024}} At the age of 17, in 1984, he became a trainee library assistant at the Labour Party’s Walworth Road headquarters. He then worked as a marketing officer and advertising account executive.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

He later studied as a mature student at the [[University of Hull]], where he was active in the [[Hull University Labour Club]] and elected President of the [[Students' union]] in 1992, although he did not complete his degree. He was chair of the [[National Organisation of Labour Students]] from 1992 to 1993.<ref name="NS2">{{cite web |title=What does Tom Watson want? |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2019/09/what-does-tom-watson-want |website=New Statesman |date=18 September 2019 |access-date=28 March 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827161814/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2019/09/what-does-tom-watson-want |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1993, he again worked for the Labour Party as National Development Officer for Youth and then worked on the party's [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] campaign. He then left to become the National Political Officer of the [[Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union]].<ref name="NS">{{cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/09/watson-news-interview-murdoch|work=[[New Statesman]]|location=London|date=28 September 2011|title=The Politics Interview — Tom Watson|first=Jon|last=Bernstein|access-date=15 July 2016|archive-date=3 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803075449/http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/09/watson-news-interview-murdoch|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early parliamentary career==
Watson was elected MP for [[West Bromwich East]] at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]. He served on the [[Home Affairs Select Committee]] from 2001 to 2003, and supported the committee's recommendation on [[UK drug policy]] to "initiate a discussion within the [[Commission on Narcotic Drugs]] of alternative ways – including the possibility of legalisation and regulation – to tackle the global drugs dilemma".<ref>{{cite web|title=Select Committee on Home Affairs Third Report|url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/318/31815.htm|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=4 November 2012|date=22 May 2002|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054901/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/318/31815.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In his first year in parliament, he launched a campaign to ban album sales of convicted sex offender [[Gary Glitter]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bamber|first=David|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359398/Gary-Glitters-comeback-plan-sparks-protest.html|title=Gary Glitter's comeback plan sparks protest|publisher=Telegraph.co.uk|date=14 October 2001|access-date=10 February 2012|location=London|archive-date=29 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129183149/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359398/Gary-Glitters-comeback-plan-sparks-protest.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Watson moved a [[Ten Minute Rule]] Bill to change [[Organ donation#Legislation|organ donation laws]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Journal And Information Office, House of Lords|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmwib/wb020327/bus.htm|title=Publications and Records|publisher=Publications.parliament.uk|access-date=13 March 2013|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115420/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmwib/wb020327/bus.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, he was a leading candidate for the chair of the [[Labour Friends of Israel]] alongside [[Stephen Byers]].<ref>{{cite news|date=4 August 2002|title=Byers tipped for Jewish lobby job|newspaper=Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/byers-tipped-for-jewish-lobby-job-172119.html|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411031337/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/byers-tipped-for-jewish-lobby-job-172119.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, Watson voted in favour of going to [[Iraq War|war with Iraq]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11309/tom_watson/west_bromwich_east/divisions?policy=1049|title=How Tom Watson voted on the Iraq War|website=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230172220/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11309/tom_watson/west_bromwich_east/divisions?policy=1049|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Which current MPs voted for the Iraq war? |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/current-labour-mps-voted-iraq-war/ |work=iNEWS |date=6 July 2016 |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027021723/https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/current-labour-mps-voted-iraq-war/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and subsequently voted consistently against an investigation into the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11309/tom_watson/west_bromwich_east/divisions?policy=975|title=How Tom Watson voted on investigations into the Iraq war|website=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-date=27 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027061515/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11309/tom_watson/west_bromwich_east/divisions?policy=975|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004 he won the ''[[New Statesman]]'' New Media Award in the category of elected representative for being one of the first MPs to use his blog to further the democratic process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/09/watson-news-interview-murdoch|title=The Politics Interview — Tom Watson|website=www.newstatesman.com|access-date=15 February 2018|archive-date=26 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926041215/https://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/09/watson-news-interview-murdoch|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watson was campaign chair for Labour in the [[2004 Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election|Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election]] in July 2004. The campaign drew criticism for its dirty tactics, particularly a Labour leaflet proclaiming "Labour is on your side – the Lib Dems are on the side of failed asylum seekers", for which Watson later admitted responsibility and expressed regrets.<ref name=NS/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/02/tom-watson-step-down-controversies|title=Series of political knocks took toll on loyal Brownite, Tom Watson|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 June 2009|access-date=23 February 2019|archive-date=23 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223131516/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/02/tom-watson-step-down-controversies|url-status=live}}</ref>

==In government==
Watson was appointed as an assistant government [[Whip (politics)|whip]] in September 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-01-06 |title=Marina Hyde's diary |language=en |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/jan/06/1 |access-date=2021-06-04 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605153247/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/jan/06/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was promoted in May 2006 to [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans]] and was instrumental in ensuring that soldiers shot for [[cowardice]] in the [[First World War]] received posthumous pardons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/oct/28/world.military|work=The Guardian|location=London, UK|title=War shame ended by plea of a daughter|first=Henry|last=McDonald|date=28 October 2007|access-date=25 May 2010|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123134219/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/oct/28/world.military|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 September 2006, it was reported he had signed a letter to [[Tony Blair]] urging the Prime Minister's resignation to end the uncertainty over his succession.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-09-05 |title=Minister joins Blair exit demands |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5314632.stm |access-date=2021-06-04 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808054417/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5314632.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Chief Whip]], [[Jacqui Smith]], told Watson that evening to either withdraw his signature to the letter or resign his post. On 6 September 2006, he resigned his ministerial position and released a further statement calling on Blair to resign.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-09-06 |title=Blair hit by wave of resignations |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5319328.stm |access-date=2021-06-04 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221154229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5319328.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5319854.stm |title=Full text of resignation letter |work=BBC News |date=6 September 2006}}</ref> Blair was quoted by the [[BBC]] as saying the statement and letter from Watson were "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" and that he would be seeing Watson later that day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/07/uk.labourleadership1 |title=Resignations and threats: the plot to oust the prime minister |first1=Patrick |last1=Wintour |first2=Will |last2=Woodward |date=11 September 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 February 2018 |archive-date=1 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301205818/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/07/uk.labourleadership1 |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Tom watson communia2009.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Watson in 2009]]

Watson returned as a government whip in July 2007, after [[Gordon Brown]] became prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7207829.stm |work=[[BBC News Online]] |title=In full: Gordon Brown's reshuffle |date=24 January 2008 |access-date=25 May 2010 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029194715/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7207829.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> As [[Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office]] from January 2008 to June 2009, he was Minister for Digital Engagement and Civil Service Issues.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=2009-06-02 |title=Profile: Tom Watson |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/02/tom-watson-profile |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-29 |title=News in brief |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/news-in-brief/405166.article |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref> Watson took a particular interest in digital affairs and in making non-personal government data more available to the public – promoting innovative data use and open source software.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jul/10/freeourdata.egovernment |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=Take your chance to free public data |first=Michael |last=Cross |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=25 May 2010 |archive-date=10 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810192358/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jul/10/freeourdata.egovernment |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7910110.stm |work=[[BBC News Online]] |title=UK government backs open source |date=25 February 2009 |access-date=25 May 2010 |archive-date=8 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608182442/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7910110.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2009 Watson received an apology and was awarded damages from The Sun newspaper for falsely claiming that he had been involved in "a plot to smear the Conservatives".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/28/the-sun-tom-watson |title=The Sun pays damages to Labour MP Tom Watson |first=James |last=Robinson |work=The Guardian |date=28 September 2009
}}</ref>

Watson served on the [[Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee]] from July 2009 to September 2012.<ref name=":0" /> He led a number of MPs in speaking out firmly against the [[Digital Economy Act 2010]], as the bill was being passed through Parliament in April 2010. He took part in a protest against the bill outside parliament on 24 March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/tom-watson-mp-%C3%ABshame-on%C3%AD-authors-digital-economy-bill |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909141206/http://www.next-gen.biz/news/tom-watson-mp-%C3%ABshame-on%C3%AD-authors-digital-economy-bill |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2012 |title=Tom Watson MP: 'Shame On' Authors Of Digital Economy Bill |first=Craig |last=Owens |date=30 March 2010 }}</ref>

===Expenses===
{{Main|United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal}}
On 10 May 2009 it was revealed that since being re-elected to parliament in 2005, Watson had claimed the maximum £4,800 allowance for food in a single year. From 2005 to 2009, Watson and [[Iain Wright]] claimed over £100,000 on a central London flat they shared.<ref name="Rayner-Prince">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5301766/Iain-Wright-and-Tom-Watson-lavish-100000-on-shared-central-London-flat-on-MPs-expenses.html |title=Iain Wright and Tom Watson lavish £100,000 on shared central London flat on MPs' expenses |author=Gordon Rayner and Rosa Prince |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 May 2009 |access-date=18 December 2009 |archive-date=6 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206131921/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5301766/Iain-Wright-and-Tom-Watson-lavish-100000-on-shared-central-London-flat-on-MPs-expenses.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Watson responded that a "[[pizza wheel]]" that appeared on a [[Marks & Spencer]] receipt he had submitted was given as a free gift after he spent £150 at the store. He added: "All claims were made under the rules set out by the House of Commons authorities. I fully understand why the public expects the system to be reformed. I voted for this last week and only hope that reforms can go even further as quickly as possible."<ref name="Rayner-Prince" />

==Early opposition career==
In October 2011 Watson was promoted to become the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator and Deputy Chair of the Labour Party]], to work with [[Jon Trickett]] and [[Michael Dugher]] in the [[Shadow Cabinet (UK)|Shadow]] [[Cabinet Office]], running Labour's elections and campaigns.<ref name="BBC_15221193">{{cite news|date=7 October 2011|title=Unveiling Labour's new guard|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15221193|access-date=23 November 2011|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402143049/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15221193|url-status=live}}</ref> He resigned from this position in July 2013, in light of the [[2013 Labour Party Falkirk candidate selection]] row.<ref name="BBC0407">{{cite news|date=4 July 2013|title=Tom Watson quits as Labour election campaign chief|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23186851|access-date=26 October 2013|archive-date=24 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024051425/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23186851|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2013, Watson joined a cross-party campaign in support of a referendum on [[Brexit|Britain's membership of the European Union]]. He supported an amendment by the Conservative MP [[Adam Afriyie]] which called for a referendum to be held before the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]].<ref>{{cite news|date=6 October 2013|title=David Cameron under new pressure to hold EU referendum before election|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/06/david-cameron-eu-referendum-election|access-date=23 March 2019|archive-date=23 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323234918/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/06/david-cameron-eu-referendum-election|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|date=6 October 2013|title=Referendum now: Tom Watson backs Tory rebels calling for early EU vote|url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2013/10/tom-watson-backs-afriyie-amendment/|magazine=The Spectator|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324000320/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2013/10/tom-watson-backs-afriyie-amendment/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Media===
Watson has been critical of conservative former [[Fox News]] host [[Glenn Beck]], claiming Beck's "type of journalism is dangerous and can have wide-ranging negative effects on society. The kind of material broadcast by Glenn Beck is not unique; a number of other '[[shock jock]]s' operate in the States. However, none has displayed intolerance on such a frequent and irresponsible scale as Glenn Beck. It is vital that that kind of 'news' is not made or broadcast in the UK. However, the proposed acquisition of [[BSkyB]] by [[News Corporation]] means that there is an increased chance of it becoming a reality."<ref name="HuffPo">{{Cite news |last=Linkins |first=Jason |date=2011-01-21 |title=British MP Tom Watson To Glenn Beck: 'You Are A Bigot' |language=en |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/british-mp-tom-watson-to-_n_812379 |access-date=2021-06-04 |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604113632/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/british-mp-tom-watson-to-_n_812379 |url-status=live }}Linkins, Jason (21 January 2011) [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/british-mp-tom-watson-to-_n_812379.html?ir=Politics British MP Tom Watson To Glenn Beck: 'You Are A Bigot'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193627/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/british-mp-tom-watson-to-_n_812379.html?ir=Politics |date=3 March 2016 }}, ''[[Huffington Post]]'', 21 January 2011.</ref>

Watson played a significant role in the [[News International phone hacking scandal]] by helping to bring the series of events at the ''[[News of the World]]'' into the open.<ref name="Walker">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/07/the-tom-watson-story-the-man-w.html|title=The Tom Watson Story: The man who took on Rupert Murdoch and won|last=Walker|first=Jonathon|date=8 July 2011|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|access-date=8 July 2011|archive-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717004650/http://blogs.birminghampost.net/news/2011/07/the-tom-watson-story-the-man-w.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, he questioned Rupert and James Murdoch, along with former ''News of the World'' editor [[Rebekah Brooks]], in a Committee session on 19 July 2011. After the subsequent re-questioning of James Murdoch on 10 November 2011, Watson likened him to a mafia boss.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-15673551|title=Tom Watson labels James Murdoch 'mafia boss'|work=BBC News|date=10 November 2011|access-date=10 November 2011|archive-date=10 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110173010/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15673551|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2011 it was announced that Watson and his co-author Martin Hickman, a journalist from ''[[The Independent]]'', were writing a book dealing with the relationship between newspapers belonging to [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News International]] and senior British politicians and police officers.<ref name=GuardJul11>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2011/jul/26/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch|title=Hack Attack review – Nick Davies's gripping account of the hacking affair|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|author=Roy Greenslade|date=26 July 2011|access-date=4 September 2014|author-link=Roy Greenslade|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202125017/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2011/jul/26/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch|url-status=live}}</ref> Watson wrote his book at the same time as ''[[The Guardian]]'' journalist [[Nick Davies]] was writing his, which was subsequently released as ''[[Hack Attack: How the Truth Caught Up with Rupert Murdoch]]''. Watson and Davies subsequently met and discussed their respective projects.<ref name=GuardJul11/> The publication date and title of Watson's book, ''[[Dial M for Murdoch|Dial M for Murdoch: News Corporation and the Corruption of Britain]]'', were released just three days before it was due to go on sale amid fears News International would try to prevent the launch.<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Hall |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/new-book-exposes-links-between-murdoch-politicians-and-police-7648278.html |title=New book 'exposes links between Murdoch, politicians and police' |publisher=Independent Print Ltd |newspaper=The Independent |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=17 April 2012 |archive-date=17 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417054825/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/new-book-exposes-links-between-murdoch-politicians-and-police-7648278.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On the day details of the book were revealed, Watson indicated on his blog his belief that the book would be controversial: "Very excited to say we've finally finished the book. It's out this Thursday. I have a hunch it will be one of the most attacked books this year."<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=McNally |url=http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/news-international-news-of-the-world-labour-mp-tom-watson-phone-hacking-book/s2/a548785/ |title=Tom Watson phone hacking book out this week |publisher=Journalism.co.uk |date=16 April 2012 |access-date=17 April 2012 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202234550/https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/news-international-news-of-the-world-labour-mp-tom-watson-phone-hacking-book/s2/a548785/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Operation Midland===
{{Further|Elm Guest House claims and controversy|Operation Midland}}
On 24 October 2012, Watson suggested in the House of Commons that a paedophile network may have existed in the past at a high level, protected by connections to Parliament and involving a close aide to a former Prime Minister; neither the aide nor the former Prime Minister was named. He called on the [[Metropolitan Police]] to reopen a closed criminal inquiry into previous allegations. These allegations were based upon information provided to him by an NHS doctor to whom a disclosure of alleged abuse had been made by the man claiming to be a victim. In an interview with  Kevin Maguire of the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' at the University of Warwick, Watson gave the account of the information that had been presented to him, on which he based his call for an investigation.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/was-there-a-paedophile-ring-in-no-10-mp-tom-watson-demands-probe-8224702.html | title=Was there a paedophile ring in No 10? MP Tom Watson demands probe | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Martin | last=Hickman | date=25 October 2012 | access-date=12 December 2012 | archive-date=15 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150455/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/was-there-a-paedophile-ring-in-no-10-mp-tom-watson-demands-probe-8224702.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2012, the Metropolitan Police stated that, after Watson had passed information to them, they had established [[Operation Fairbank]] to investigate the allegations.<ref name=bbc121212>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20697738 | work = BBC News | title = Jimmy Savile abuse: Number of alleged victims reaches 450 | date = 12 December 2012 | access-date = 12 December 2012 | archive-date = 12 December 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121212183227/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20697738 | url-status = live }}</ref> However, by March 2016 ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that Operation Fairbank caused much speculation on the internet but made little progress in exposing the alleged paedophile ring.<ref name="Midland">{{cite news |title=Operation Midland: The story behind the Met's controversial VIP paedophile ring investigation |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/12200180/Operation-Midland-The-story-behind-the-Mets-controversial-VIP-paedophile-ring-investigation.html |last=Evans |first=Martin |access-date=25 January 2019 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331195324/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/12200180/Operation-Midland-The-story-behind-the-Mets-controversial-VIP-paedophile-ring-investigation.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2015, Watson was criticised for consistently refusing to comment after it was revealed that the police had been pushed into investigating rape allegations against [[Leon Brittan]] by Watson, who wrote to the [[Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)|Director of Public Prosecutions]], and that the police later had to apologise that Brittan's family were not told that the case was dropped before his death. Watson had repeated the allegations after the death.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Watson urged to break silence over Lord Brittan abuse claims|last = Cecil|first = Nicholas|date = 9 October 2015|work = London Evening Standard|page = 6}}</ref> The rape allegations were examined by the Metropolitan Police but officers could not find evidence that would lead to further action. The person making the original allegations, [[Operation Midland|Carl Beech]], was later found guilty of making up the Westminster VIP paedophile ring.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/22/nick-trial-carl-beech-found-guilty-making-westminster-vip-paedophile/|title=Carl Beech aka Nick found guilty of making up Westminster VIP paedophile ring|first=Martin|last=Evans|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=22 July 2019|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722143454/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/22/nick-trial-carl-beech-found-guilty-making-westminster-vip-paedophile/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watson was described in March 2019 at the [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] by lawyers for the falsely accused former MP, [[Harvey Proctor]], as a "vehicle for conspiracy theorists".<ref name="telegraph-20190329">{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Martin|date=29 March 2019|title=Tom Watson was a 'patsy for fake news' the child abuse inquiry is told|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/03/29/tom-watson-patsy-fake-news-child-abuse-inquiry-told/|access-date=30 March 2019|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329154102/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/03/29/tom-watson-patsy-fake-news-child-abuse-inquiry-told/|url-status=live}}</ref> After Beech's conviction in July 2019, Lady Brittan said: “It is too late for Tom Watson to apologise but his attempt to distance himself from the false allegations of Carl Beech in the wake of the guilty verdict is disingenuous and untruthful".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/24/lady-brittan-accuses-tom-watson-untruthful-dealings-paedophile/|title=Lady Brittan accuses Tom Watson of being 'untruthful' over his dealings with paedophile and fantasist Carl Beech|last=Mendick|first=Robert|date=25 July 2019|access-date=25 July 2019|work=The Telegraph|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724214213/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/24/lady-brittan-accuses-tom-watson-untruthful-dealings-paedophile/|url-status=live}}</ref> Harvey Proctor said "The Metropolitan Police were lapdogs to Mr Watson's crude dog whistle. It's time for the torchlight to take a closer look at Mr Watson. It is now beyond doubt that all of these allegations could never have been true and only someone with spectacular bad judgement could think that they might be. It is time for an apology from him to me..."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/carl-beech-exnurse-accused-of-inventing-a-murderous-westminster-vip-paedophile-ring-is-found-guilty-a4195606.html|title=Carl Beech: Ex-nurse found guilty of inventing murderous VIP Westminster paedophile ring|last1=Clifton|first1=Katy|last2=Cockroft|first2=Stephanie|date=22 July 2019|access-date=22 July 2019|work=Evening Standard|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722161837/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/carl-beech-exnurse-accused-of-inventing-a-murderous-westminster-vip-paedophile-ring-is-found-guilty-a4195606.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Proctor added, "He denies it now, but he was the cheerleader in chief for Mr Beech. He was in the team. Tom Watson scared the Metropolitan Police to death over phone hacking. He intended to do the same for historic child sexual abuse. Not because Tom Watson has got any interest in historic child sexual abuse. Tom Watson has got a great interest in himself, and in grandstanding, just as he is doing currently on his so-called anti-Semitism campaign."<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|last=Spear-Cole|first=Rebecca|date=27 July 2019|title=Carl Beech: Former MP Harvey Proctor calls Tom Watson 'cheerleader-in-chief' for Westminster VIP paedophile ring accuser|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/carl-beech-former-mp-harvey-proctor-calls-tom-watson-cheerleaderinchief-for-westminster-vip-a4199391.html|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726204909/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/carl-beech-former-mp-harvey-proctor-calls-tom-watson-cheerleaderinchief-for-westminster-vip-a4199391.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Proctor later asked the Labour Party to suspend Watson and to investigate his behaviour on the grounds of breaching the party's membership code and bringing it into disrepute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/01/harvey-proctor-urges-labour-suspend-tom-watson-operation-midland/|title=Harvey Proctor urges Labour to suspend Tom Watson over Operation Midland role|last=Evans|first=Martin|date=1 August 2019|access-date=2 August 2019|work=the Telegraph|archive-date=1 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801195057/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/01/harvey-proctor-urges-labour-suspend-tom-watson-operation-midland/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lord Bramall]]'s son also demanded an apology.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|last=Webber|first=Esther|date=26 July 2019|title=Lord Bramall's son demands apology from Tom Watson over Carl Beech abuse lies|work=[[The Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/lord-bramall-s-son-demands-apology-from-tom-watson-over-carl-beech-abuse-lies-qffl9w8rq|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727050912/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lord-bramall-s-son-demands-apology-from-tom-watson-over-carl-beech-abuse-lies-qffl9w8rq|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the daughters of the late [[Greville Janner]], who was also accused by Beech, [[Laura Janner-Klausner|Rabbi Janner-Klausner]], said "We have a system where people are believed instantly before the evidence is examined instead of being listened to compassionately and the allegations properly investigated. People were able to accuse (my father) without a shred of evidence and were believed straight away."<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|last=Doherty|first=Rosa|date=24 July 2019|title=Paedophile's false allegations about my father 'make me sick,' says Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner|work=Jewish Chronicle|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/rabbi-laura-janner-klausner-it-makes-me-sick-to-see-father-s-name-associated-with-carl-beech-1.486754|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726203137/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/rabbi-laura-janner-klausner-it-makes-me-sick-to-see-father-s-name-associated-with-carl-beech-1.486754|url-status=live}}</ref> Daniel Janner QC, his son, said "Tom Watson should resign. He appointed himself Britain’s chief paedo-finder general and created a [[moral panic]]. His motive was personal political advancement riding on a bandwagon of public frenzy which he had whipped up. He should hang his head in shame. For him to take the moral high ground in the Labour Party against antisemitism is completely hypocritical."<ref name="auto3">{{cite news|date=23 July 2019|title=Carl Beech: Tom Watson says he held meeting 'to reassure him'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49086717|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723190309/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49086717|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tom-watson-carl-beech-lord-janner-daniel-westminster-paedophile-ring-a9022031.html|title=Tom Watson 'must hang head in shame' for whipping up panic over fake Westminster VIP paedophile ring, says Janner|last=Forrest|first=Adam|date=26 July 2019|access-date=26 July 2019|work=The Independent|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726182306/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tom-watson-carl-beech-lord-janner-daniel-westminster-paedophile-ring-a9022031.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watson had also lobbied successfully [[Alison Saunders]], the [[Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)|Director of Public Prosecutions]] to reopen Operation Vincente, an investigation into an alleged rape in 1967 by Leon Brittan. The police had concluded initially that the allegation, made in 2014 by a woman with a history of mental health problems, was false.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/20/metropolitan-police-suppressed-report-intosecond-false-lord/|title=Metropolitan Police 'suppressed' report into second false Lord Brittan claim|last=Mendick|first=Robert|date=20 September 2019|access-date=22 September 2019|work=The Telegraph|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921193008/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/20/metropolitan-police-suppressed-report-intosecond-false-lord/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of reopening the case, Brittan was interviewed under caution and was not told before his death that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Merrill |first=Jamie |title=Exclusive: Lord Brittan questioned by police over rape allegation |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exclusive-lord-brittan-questioned-by-police-over-rape-allegation-9587245.html |access-date=6 July 2014 |newspaper=The Independent on Sunday |location=London |date=6 July 2014 |archive-date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707232353/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exclusive-lord-brittan-questioned-by-police-over-rape-allegation-9587245.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hanning">{{cite news |last=Hanning |first=James |title=Lord Brittan police failed to tell dying peer he would not face prosecution despite legal advice |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lord-brittan-police-failed-to-tell-dying-peer-he-would-not-face-prosecution-despite-legal-advice-10350596.html |access-date=28 June 2015 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=28 June 2015 |archive-date=30 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630220825/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lord-brittan-police-failed-to-tell-dying-peer-he-would-not-face-prosecution-despite-legal-advice-10350596.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2019, details of the Henriques report emerged. The report said, of Watson, "His interest, however, in both Operation Midland and Operation Vincente created further pressure upon MPS officers.”; specifically, “A possible inference is that the officers, then responsible, were in a state of panic induced by Mr Watson’s letter.” It adds that Watson described Lord Brittan as being as “close to evil as any human being could be”, saying he “grossly insulted” the former home secretary. Harvey Proctor said: “The problem was that the police assigned to interview Beech lacked common sense and yielded to intense pressure from Tom Watson, an irresponsible politician out for his own publicity in order to galvanise his advancement to become deputy leader of the Labour party.” Lady Brittan said “The extent of Tom Watson’s involvement in the witch-hunt of innocent people has been laid bare. His subsequent attempts to distance himself show a complete lack of integrity. By misusing his public office to recklessly repeat false allegations, and to characterise himself as a victim, he has shown that he is unfit to hold the office of MP.”<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/04/tom-watson-criticised-over-role-in-bungled-vip-abuse-investigation|title=Tom Watson criticised over role in bungled VIP abuse investigation|last=Dodd|first=Vikram|date=4 October 2019|access-date=4 October 2019|work=The Guardian|archive-date=4 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004150621/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/04/tom-watson-criticised-over-role-in-bungled-vip-abuse-investigation|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Deputy Leader of the Labour Party==
[[File:Tom Watson and Jeremy Corbyn, 2016 Labour Party Conference.jpg|thumb|left|Watson and Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] at the 2016 Labour Party Conference]]

On 8 May 2015, the day after the Labour Party lost the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|general election]], Watson announced his intention to stand in the ensuing [[2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election|deputy leadership election]], becoming the first to declare.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Rowena|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/10/caroline-flint-labour-deputy-leader-against-tom-watson|title=Caroline Flint tipped to run as Labour's deputy leader against Tom Watson|work=The Guardian|date=10 May 2015|access-date=30 July 2015|archive-date=10 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810053400/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/10/caroline-flint-labour-deputy-leader-against-tom-watson|url-status=live}}</ref> Watson was nominated by 59 Members of Parliament, more than any other candidate, and quickly emerged as the front runner.<ref>{{cite news|last=Perraudin|first=Frances|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/19/labour-20th-century-party-tom-watson|title=Labour still a 20th-century party, says deputy leader contender Tom Watson|work=The Guardian|date=19 June 2015|access-date=30 July 2015|archive-date=18 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818103250/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/19/labour-20th-century-party-tom-watson|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 September he was elected as [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] with 198,962 votes or 50.7% in the third round, including second preference votes from those who voted for other candidates.<ref>{{cite web|title=Labour leadership contest live: Will Jeremy Corbyn win? – BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-34205207|work=bbc.co.uk|date=12 September 2015 |access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=12 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912103046/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-34205207|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34232388|title=Tom Watson elected deputy leader of the Labour Party|work=BBC News|date=12 September 2015|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=15 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815051633/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34232388|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="votes">{{cite web|title=Results of The Labour Leadership contest|url=http://www.labour.org.uk/blog/entry/results-of-the-labour-leadership-and-deputy-leadership-election|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721231632/http://www.labour.org.uk/blog/entry/results-of-the-labour-leadership-and-deputy-leadership-election|archive-date=21 July 2016|access-date=13 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was also appointed [[Chair of the Labour Party]] and [[Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office]] by new Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/tom-watson/1463|title=Tom Watson MP|website=UK Parliament|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708115949/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/tom-watson/1463|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019 after he stood down both as an MP and as Deputy Leader he said he had voted for [[Owen Smith]] in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2016 Leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/28/tom-watson-was-i-disloyal-i-dont-take-kindly-to-being-told-what-to-do|title=Tom Watson: 'Was I disloyal? I don't take kindly to being told what to do'|date=28 December 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228073802/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/28/tom-watson-was-i-disloyal-i-dont-take-kindly-to-being-told-what-to-do|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watson was the Vice Chair of Trade Union Friends of Israel (TUFI) as of 2015.<ref name="jc-20150926">{{cite news|last=Philpot|first=Robert|date=26 September 2015|title=Shadow cabinet set for battle over Israel|work=The Jewish Chronicle|url=http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/analysis/145698/shadow-cabinet-set-battle-over-israel|access-date=9 August 2016|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927122619/http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/analysis/145698/shadow-cabinet-set-battle-over-israel|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2015, Watson spoke about Labour members who took part in a vigil against proposed UK airstrikes on Syria outside the office of [[Stella Creasy]] MP, saying that "if there were Labour party members on that [anti-war] demonstration, intimidating staff members of an MP like that, then I think they should be removed from the party." His spokesman later said that Watson was unaware that the office was empty at the time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Watson is trying to intimidate us, say anti-war protesters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/04/tom-watson-intimidating-anti-war-protest-labour-vicar-walthamstow |work=The Guardian |date=4 December 2015 |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027061601/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/04/tom-watson-intimidating-anti-war-protest-labour-vicar-walthamstow |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2016, Watson abstained, along with 100 other Labour MPs who abstained on or voted against the Labour Party's unsuccessful motion to withdraw UK support from the [[Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen]]. The Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen had led to thousands of [[Human rights violations during the Yemeni civil war (2014–present)|civilian casualties]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Labour MPs rebel against party's own motion calling for action on Saudi Arabian war crimes |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/saudi-arabia-yemen-labour-mps-debate-bombing-intervention-woodcock-a7382706.html |work=The Independent |date=27 October 2016 |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027064517/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/saudi-arabia-yemen-labour-mps-debate-bombing-intervention-woodcock-a7382706.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@TenPercent/labour-mps-who-abstained-on-welfare-stopping-saudi-war-crimes-f03c631c0268|title=Labour MP's Who Abstained on Welfare & Stopping Saudi War Crimes|first=Rick|last=B|date=28 October 2016|website=Medium|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-date=27 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027021658/https://medium.com/@TenPercent/labour-mps-who-abstained-on-welfare-stopping-saudi-war-crimes-f03c631c0268|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watson announced in October 2017 that he had gone on [[hunger strike]], in support of two [[Guantánamo Bay]] detainees also on hunger strike, after the US government changed its policy on prisoners who refuse food; they will not be fed at all, instead of being [[force fed]].<ref name="hungerstrike">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/guantanamo-bay-hunger-strike-president-trump-fair-trial-tom-watson | title=Why I'm going on hunger strike | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=17 October 2017 | access-date=17 October 2017 | author=Watson, Tom | archive-date=17 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017072103/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/guantanamo-bay-hunger-strike-president-trump-fair-trial-tom-watson | url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn#October 2016 reshuffle|October 2016 shadow cabinet reshuffle]], Watson was made [[Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport]]. In that role, he called for greater scrutiny of a planned takeover of [[Sky UK]] by [[Rupert Murdoch|Murdoch]]-owned [[21st Century Fox|Fox]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/20/foxs-117bn-bid-for-sky-should-be-referred-to-competition-authorities|title=Fox's £11.7bn bid for Sky 'should be referred to competition authorities'|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=20 June 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205112605/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/20/foxs-117bn-bid-for-sky-should-be-referred-to-competition-authorities|url-status=live}}</ref> backed the TV licence fee,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/13/tom-watson-urges-tories-to-reject-dup-plan-to-abolish-tv-licence-fee|title=Tom Watson urges Tories to reject DUP plan to abolish TV licence fee|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=13 June 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030182215/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/13/tom-watson-urges-tories-to-reject-dup-plan-to-abolish-tv-licence-fee|url-status=live}}</ref> criticised government pressure on [[Ofcom]] in relation to regulation of the BBC,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/17/labour-accuses-culture-secretary-over-bbc-and-ofcom-interference|title=Labour accuses culture secretary over BBC and Ofcom 'interference'|last=Ruddick|first=Graham|date=17 August 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011114911/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/17/labour-accuses-culture-secretary-over-bbc-and-ofcom-interference|url-status=live}}</ref> and proposed fairer rail ticketing for football fans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/aug/10/football-fans-premier-league-rail-tickets|title=Labour's Tom Watson calls for more flexible rail ticketing to help away fans|last=Wilson|first=Paul|date=10 August 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-date=11 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211172245/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/aug/10/football-fans-premier-league-rail-tickets|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, he announced the Labour Party would launch a review of the NHS treatment of gambling addiction. The review was published in 2018 which proposed a blanket ban in the use of credit cards for betting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/23/ban-credit-cards-for-online-gambling-says-government-review|title=Ban credit cards for online gambling, says government review|first=Rob|last=Davies|date=23 January 2018|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

In June 2017, [[Ian Lavery]] replaced Watson as [[Labour Party Chair]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Madeley|first=Pete|title=Tom Watson ditched as Labour chairman in reshuffle|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/trending-topics/general-election-2017/2017/06/16/watson-ditched-as-labour-chair/|website=www.expressandstar.com|date=16 June 2017 |access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821174710/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/trending-topics/general-election-2017/2017/06/16/watson-ditched-as-labour-chair/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2018, Watson backed calls for a statue to be erected in memory of women's rights campaigner [[Mary Wollstonecraft]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-backs-calls-statue-early-feminist-mary-wollstonecraft/|title=Jeremy Corbyn backs calls for statue to early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft|date=2018-03-07|work=i|access-date=2018-09-12|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002310/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-backs-calls-statue-early-feminist-mary-wollstonecraft/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2018, Watson vowed that if Labour won the next general election he would set up an independent, cross-party commission to investigate ways of preventing [[type-2 diabetes]], with the aim of eliminating the estimated rise in cases within five years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45495384|title=Tom Watson 'reversed' type-2 diabetes|date=2018-09-12|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-09-12|archive-date=12 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912140509/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45495384|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following defections of Labour MPs in 2019 to The Independent Group, later [[Change UK]], Watson set up the [[Future Britain Group]] of Labour politicians.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Chris |title=Future Britain Group draws Labour MPs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47532405 |access-date=14 March 2019 |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2019 |archive-date=12 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312221712/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47532405 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was criticised for continuing to accept funding from property developer [[David Garrard (property developer)|David Garrard]], who was reported to have given Change UK £1.5 million and to have financially supported [[Joan Ryan (politician)|Joan Ryan]] and [[Ian Austin]] since their departure from Labour.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/lead-tom-watson-criticised-taking-money-change-uk-funder|title=Tom Watson criticised for taking money from Change UK funder|last=Millar|first=Phil|date=28 April 2018|access-date=17 July 2019|work=[[Morning Star (UK newspaper)|Morning Star]]|archive-date=12 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812103748/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/lead-tom-watson-criticised-taking-money-change-uk-funder|url-status=live}}</ref> Watson has also received funding from businessman [[Trevor Chinn]].<ref name="totalpolitics-20160421">{{cite news |url=https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/news/sir-trevor-chinn-becomes-latest-labour-donor-fund-dan-jarvis-machine |title=Sir Trevor Chinn becomes latest Labour donor to fund the Dan Jarvis machine |newspaper=totalpolitics |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=9 January 2018 |archive-date=17 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717220211/https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/news/sir-trevor-chinn-becomes-latest-labour-donor-fund-dan-jarvis-machine |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2019, Watson was criticised by Labour's [[General Secretary of the Labour Party|General Secretary]] [[Jennie Formby]] for being irresponsible in criticising Labour's handling of [[Antisemitism in the British Labour Party|antisemitism claims]]. Formby said he risked exacerbating fears in the Jewish community and that, while antisemitism was a real problem, steps had been taken to tackle it. Watson had asked for a copy of the party response to a request by the [[Equality and Human Rights Commission]] to be released to the Shadow Cabinet and the NEC, which Formby said she had already offered sight of to Watson (she did not address the subject of releasing it to the rest of the Shadow Cabinet and NEC), and had previously asked to be copied in on individual complaints, which had data protection issues. In response to Watson's claim that the party's response to the Panorama programme ''Is Labour Anti-Semitic'' had "smeared" the former Labour staff members and "breached all common standards of decency", Formby stated that all current Labour staff members had access to an "Employee Assistance Programme" but said the party was not made aware of the distress suffered by staff members at the time and she was "very concerned" to hear about it for the first time in the Panorama documentary. Watson was also criticised for attacking Formby when she was undergoing [[chemotherapy]] treatment for cancer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48959373|title=Labour general secretary criticises 'irresponsible' Tom Watson|date=12 July 2019|access-date=27 July 2019|work=BBC News|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715192633/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48959373|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2019/07/jennie-formby-and-tom-watson-exchange-letters-in-antisemitism-row/|title=Jennie Formby and Tom Watson exchange letters in antisemitism row|first=Sienna|last=Rodgers|website=LabourList|date=12 July 2019 |access-date=25 December 2019|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226010944/https://labourlist.org/2019/07/jennie-formby-and-tom-watson-exchange-letters-in-antisemitism-row/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The same month, former Labour and [[Respect Party|Respect]] MP [[George Galloway]] and former Conservative MP [[Harvey Proctor]] announced individually that they planned to stand against Watson at the next general election, Galloway as a pro-Brexit pro-Corbyn independent, and Proctor in protest at Watson's role in the false paedophilia allegations of [[Operation Midland]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/george-galloway-plans-to-challenge-labour-deputy-tom-watson-as-pro-brexit-candidate-1-4966665|title=George Galloway plans to challenge Labour deputy Tom Watson as 'pro-Brexit' candidate|date=17 July 2019|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726152527/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/george-galloway-plans-to-challenge-labour-deputy-tom-watson-as-pro-brexit-candidate-1-4966665|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/25/harvey-proctor-vows-stand-against-tom-watson-next-general-election/|title=Harvey Proctor vows to stand against Tom Watson at next general election in revenge for 'Nick' campaign|last=Mendick|first=Robert|date=25 July 2019|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726003601/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/25/harvey-proctor-vows-stand-against-tom-watson-next-general-election/|url-status=live}}</ref> July also saw Watson be the subject of a complaint to the Labour Party for making allegedly antisemitic remarks; he had in his Easter message asked readers to recall the arrest of Christ by "a squad of Roman soldiers under the direction of a servant to the High Priest." The complainant, Geoffrey Alderman, said that the fact this was not antisemitic under the IHRA definition adopted by the Labour Party highlighted the definition's "flaws".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/labour-antisemitism-tom-watson-blood-libel-jewish-conspiracy-ihra-a9029081.html|title=This Labour Party row will not be settled by relying on a flawed and faulty definition of antisemitism|last=Alderman|first=Geoffrey|date=31 July 2019|access-date=31 July 2019|work=[[The Independent]]|archive-date=31 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731133833/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/labour-antisemitism-tom-watson-blood-libel-jewish-conspiracy-ihra-a9029081.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was also the month in which cartoonist [[Steve Bell (cartoonist)|Steve Bell]] protested to ''The Guardian'' after it refused to run an installment of his long running 'If...' cartoon strip, which portrayed Watson as an "antisemite finder general".<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 July 2019 |title=Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell rails against 'specious charge of antisemitism' in email to all paper's journalists |work=The Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/guardian-cartoonist-steve-bell-specious-charge-of-antisemitism-in-email-to-all-paper-1.486570 |access-date=2021-06-04 |archive-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915223423/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/guardian-cartoonist-steve-bell-specious-charge-of-antisemitism-in-email-to-all-paper-1.486570 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2019, Watson made a speech urging Labour to become a pro-remain party, in order to win back disaffected remain voters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/sep/11/tom-watson-says-pm-is-disgraceful-and-calls-for-referendum-before-election-video|title=Tom Watson says PM is 'disgraceful' and calls for referendum before election – video|date=2019-09-11|website=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-16|archive-date=14 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914225310/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/sep/11/tom-watson-says-pm-is-disgraceful-and-calls-for-referendum-before-election-video|url-status=live}}</ref> He has been quoted by ''The Guardian'' as saying that "most of those who've deserted us over our Brexit policy did so with deep regret and would greatly prefer to come back; they just want us to take an unequivocal position that, whatever happens, we'll fight to remain, and to sound like we mean it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/11/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-call-tom-watson-labour-fully-back-remain|title=Corbyn rejects call by Tom Watson for Labour to fully back remain|last=Stewart|first=Heather|date=2019-09-11|website=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-16|archive-date=16 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916124814/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/11/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-call-tom-watson-labour-fully-back-remain|url-status=live}}</ref> Jeremy Corbyn rejected his proposition, saying that Labour would continue to represent both sides of the Brexit divide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/30/labour-nec-backs-second-referendum-in-specific-circumstances|title=Anger as Corbyn faces down calls for Labour to back new Brexit vote|last=Stewart|first=Heather|date=2019-04-30|website=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-16|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921170804/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/30/labour-nec-backs-second-referendum-in-specific-circumstances|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Resignation===
On 6 November 2019 Watson announced that he would be standing down both as an MP and as Deputy Leader and leave office on 12 December 2019.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2009|title=Resignation|url=http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2009/06/tom-watson-mp-resignation/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112155713/http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2009/06/tom-watson-mp-resignation/|archive-date=12 January 2016|publisher=Tom Watson MP|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He stated his decision was "personal, not political" and declared his intention to continue campaigning on health issues.<ref name="watresignInd">{{cite web|title=Tom Watson: Labour deputy leader stands down as MP|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-watson-quit-mp-deputy-labour-leader-election-corbyn-west-bromwich-east-a9188491.html?#Echobox=1573070944|access-date=6 November 2019|work=The Independent|date=6 November 2019|archive-date=6 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106214658/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-watson-quit-mp-deputy-labour-leader-election-corbyn-west-bromwich-east-a9188491.html#Echobox=1573070944|url-status=live}}</ref> The Jewish Labour Movement described his decision to step down as "shocking and saddening".<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1192175004114403328|author=Jewish Labour Movement|user=JewishLabour|title=Tom Watson's decision to resign is shocking and saddening.|date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

Expanding on the reasons for his resignation in an interview in December 2019, he said "two weeks before I resigned, a guy was arrested for giving me a death threat. He was a Labour supporter. The police got in touch and said, 'We've arrested this guy', assuming I knew about it. But I didn't. The Labour party had sent out a fundraising email that he had responded to with a death threat. The party reported it to the police, but didn't tell me... the brutality and hostility is real and it's day to day. So I just thought: now's the time to take a leap, do something different. You've had a good innings. You've done good stuff. Go now."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/27/tom-watson-i-quit-because-of-labour-brutality|title=Tom Watson: I quit because of Labour brutality|work=The Guardian|last1=Hattenstone|first1=Simon|last2=Walker|first2=Peter|date=27 December 2019|access-date=27 December 2019|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227192011/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/27/tom-watson-i-quit-because-of-labour-brutality|url-status=live}}</ref> His former constituency, [[West Bromwich East]], went to the Conservative Party for the first time since its foundation in 1974, with the Conservatives gaining a 12.1 swing on Labour.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Bromwich East Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14001029 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=24 April 2022 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911090217/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14001029 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Later career ==

In March 2020, Watson was appointed chair of [[UK Music]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=UK Music Appoints Tom Watson As New UK Music Chair|url=https://www.ukmusic.org/news/uk-music-appoints-tom-watson-as-new-uk-music-chair|access-date=2020-05-27|website=UK Music|date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721044527/https://www.ukmusic.org/news/uk-music-appoints-tom-watson-as-new-uk-music-chair|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the summer of 2020, Watson participated in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] reality programme ''Don't Rock The Boat'', which was broadcast in November 2020.

In September 2020, Watson, who had previously been heavily critical of the gambling industry, took a job as a senior adviser on problem gambling to [[Flutter Entertainment]], which runs the [[Gambling in the United Kingdom|UK gambling companies]] [[Paddy Power]], [[Betfair]] and [[Sky Bet]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Rob|date=2020-09-17|title=Tom Watson takes job as adviser to Paddy Power and Betfair|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/17/tom-watson-job-adviser-paddy-power-betfair-gambling-former-labour-mp|access-date=2020-09-17|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917202408/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/17/tom-watson-job-adviser-paddy-power-betfair-gambling-former-labour-mp|url-status=live}}</ref>

He produced an autobiographical book, "Downsizing" (2020),<ref name="TLSbook" >{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Joe |title=Low Carb |url=https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/downsizing-by-tom-watson-book-revew-joe-williams/ |access-date=4 September 2021 |publisher=Times Literary Supplement |date=3 April 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904130823/https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/downsizing-by-tom-watson-book-revew-joe-williams/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CI" >{{cite news |last1=Spencer |first1=Alex |title=Tom Watson interview: How I lost eight stone and beat diabetes |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/whats-on/tom-watson-how-i-lost-eight-stone-9104002// |access-date=4 September 2021 |publisher=Cambridge Independent |date=24 March 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904130824/https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/whats-on/tom-watson-how-i-lost-eight-stone-9104002// |url-status=live }}</ref> and presented a two-part documentary on ITV, "Giving Up Sugar for Good" (2021),<ref name="TelArgus" >{{cite news |last1=Stanford |first1=Mark |title=Dr Amir Khan to feature on show about sugar on ITV Tonight |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19267970.dr-amir-khan-feature-show-sugar-itv-tonight/ |access-date=4 September 2021 |publisher=Telegraph and Argus |date=29 April 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904130821/https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19267970.dr-amir-khan-feature-show-sugar-itv-tonight/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GoodtoTWSugar" >{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Grace |title=Tom Watson weight loss: What diet was the former Labour deputy leader on? |url=https://www.goodto.com/wellbeing/health/tom-watson-weight-loss-what-diet-was-the-former-labour-deputy-leader-on-552173 |access-date=4 September 2021 |publisher=GoodTo |date=14 May 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904130823/https://www.goodto.com/wellbeing/health/tom-watson-weight-loss-what-diet-was-the-former-labour-deputy-leader-on-552173 |url-status=live }}</ref> documenting his personal experience of losing seven stone in less than twelve months and putting his [[type 2 diabetes]] into remission by following a low-carbohydrate lifestyle.<ref name="Inewsdiet" >{{cite news |last1=Sandhu |first1=Serina |title=Tom Watson says his Type 2 diabetes went into remission after following a strict diet |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/tom-watson-lose-weight-pioppi-diet-sugar-free-196373/ |access-date=3 September 2021 |publisher=I news |date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130114459/https://inews.co.uk/news/health/tom-watson-lose-weight-pioppi-diet-sugar-free-196373 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Gdiet" >{{cite news |last1=Saner |first1=Emine |title=Tom Watson: how I lost seven stone and reversed my type 2 diabetes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/sep/12/tom-watson-lost-seven-stone-reversed-type-2-diabetes-interview |access-date=4 September 2021 |publisher=Guardian |date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904130821/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/sep/12/tom-watson-lost-seven-stone-reversed-type-2-diabetes-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2025, Watson settled with News Group Newspapers, receiving substantial damages and an apology for "unwarranted intrusion" into his private life by the [[News of the World]] newspaper, which included surveillance and the use of false information while he was investigating Rupert Murdoch's newspapers, though NGN denied his phone was hacked between 2009-2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3wn1k6drqo |title=Sun owner to pay Prince Harry 'substantial' damages |work=BBC News |date= 22 January 2025 |first1=Aleks |last1=Phillips |first2=Alex |last2=Smith}}</ref> The legal case was connected to a related claim made by [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex#News Group and Mirror Group newspapers|Prince Harry]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/duke-of-sussex-settles-court-case-with-the-suns-publisher-13294182 |title=Prince Harry settles court case with The Sun's publisher |work=Sky News |date=22 January 2025}}</ref>

===Peerage===

In January 2020, it was reported that Watson had been nominated for a [[Peerages in the United Kingdom|peerage]]. According to [[John Rentoul]], who wrote in ''[[The Independent]]'', his nomination was subsequently rejected by the [[House of Lords Appointments Commission]], the body that vets nominees for "propriety".  Watson is believed to have been rejected owing to his actions surrounding [[Operation Midland]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Former deputy Labour leader Tom Watson rejected for peerage |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-watson-peerage-bercow-corbyn-karie-murphy-lords-reject-a9540941.html |work=The Independent |date=31 May 2020 |language=en |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=1 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601190049/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tom-watson-peerage-bercow-corbyn-karie-murphy-lords-reject-a9540941.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Watson peerage 'goes in the bin' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/tom-watson-is-rejected-for-a-peerage-hsbd9sg8k |publisher=Times |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602043331/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tom-watson-is-rejected-for-a-peerage-hsbd9sg8k |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Peerage for ex-deputy Labour leader Tom Watson blocked – reports |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-01/peerage-for-ex-deputy-labour-leader-tom-watson-blocked-reports/ |work=ITV News |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=1 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601093531/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-01/peerage-for-ex-deputy-labour-leader-tom-watson-blocked-reports/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Watson met Beech 'to reassure him for police' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49086717 |work=BBC News |date=23 July 2019 |access-date=23 July 2019 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723190309/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49086717 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2020, it was reported by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' that Watson was to once again be nominated for a peerage, in this instance by the Labour leader [[Keir Starmer]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/08/15/tom-watson-line-receive-peerage-nomination-sir-keir-starmer/|title=Tom Watson in line to receive peerage after nomination by Sir Keir Starmer|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=Hope|first=Christopher|date=15 August 2020|access-date=16 August 2020|archive-date=16 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816091930/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/08/15/tom-watson-line-receive-peerage-nomination-sir-keir-starmer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was announced on 14 October 2022, that as part of the [[2022 Special Honours]], Watson would receive a life peerage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political Peerages 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-peerages-2022 |date=14 October 2022|access-date=15 October 2022|website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> On 21 November 2022, he was created '''Baron Watson of Wyre Forest''', of [[Kidderminster]] in the County of [[Worcestershire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crown Office {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4218269/ |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Watson married Siobhan Corby in 2000.<ref>{{Who's Who |title=Watson of Wyre Forest |year=2023 |id=U42169 |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U42169}}</ref><ref name=ParReg>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/110124/part2.htm |title=House of Commons – The Register of Members' Financial Interests – Part 2: Part 2 |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |access-date=23 November 2011 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091532/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/110124/part2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> They had two children before separating in 2012.<ref name=BMail191114>{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/mp-tom-watson-finds-new-191114|title=MP Tom Watson finds new love after marriage comes to an end|work=[[Birmingham Mail]]|date=26 August 2012|access-date=21 July 2013|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022000446/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/mp-tom-watson-finds-new-191114|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=guardian-20171020>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/20/labours-tom-watson-do-jeremy-corbyn-and-i-get-on-better-now-yes-a-lot |title=Labour's Tom Watson: 'Do Jeremy Corbyn and I get on better now? Yes, a lot' |last=Aitkenhead |first=Decca |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 October 2017 |access-date=18 November 2017 |archive-date=11 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111215826/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/20/labours-tom-watson-do-jeremy-corbyn-and-i-get-on-better-now-yes-a-lot |url-status=live }}</ref> He was later in a relationship with future Labour MP [[Stephanie Peacock]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/mp-tom-watson-finds-new-191114|title=MP Tom Watson finds new love after marriage comes to an end|work=[[Birmingham Live]]|date=26 August 2012|accessdate=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022000446/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/mp-tom-watson-finds-new-191114|archivedate=22 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2018, during an interview with [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|The Today Programme]]'', Watson revealed that he had been diagnosed with [[type-2 diabetes]] but had "reversed" the condition through diet and exercise. Watson explained that, between the summer of 2017 and September 2018, he had lost {{convert | 7 | st | spell = in }}. He also revealed that he had "battled weight since my early 20s".<ref name=":1" />

Watson is a gamer and a regular reviewer of games for ''[[New Statesman]]''<ref name="Games Rev">{{cite web | url=http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/12/date-destiny-tom-watson-best-and-worst-games-2014 | title=Tom Watson Best and Worst Games | date=22 December 2014 | access-date=13 September 2015 | archive-date=19 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119051151/http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/12/date-destiny-tom-watson-best-and-worst-games-2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> and other titles. He finds it relaxing and confessed to spending too much time on ''[[Portal 2]]'' while preparing for questions during the hacking story interviews.<ref name=" gaming ">{{cite web | url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/564049/MP-Tom-Watson-phone-hacking-scandal-gaming-session-Portal-2-hearing-Murdoch | title=Tom Watson phone hacking scandal gaming confession | date=15 March 2015 | access-date=13 September 2015 | archive-date=17 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017222702/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/564049/MP-Tom-Watson-phone-hacking-scandal-gaming-session-Portal-2-hearing-Murdoch | url-status=live }}</ref>

He is played by [[Daniel Ryan (actor)|Daniel Ryan]] in the 2025 ITV drama about the [[News International phone hacking scandal]], ''[[The Hack]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fear |first1=Helen |title=The Hack on ITV1: The talented - and HUGE! - cast of phone hacking drama led by David Tennant |url=https://www.tvguide.co.uk/streaming-guide/the-hack-itv-insanely-talented-cast-phone-hacking-scandal-david-tennant-toby-jones-robert-carlyle |website=TV Guide |access-date=25 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*2012 – ''[[Dial M for Murdoch]]'' (Allen Lane) {{ISBN|1-84614-603-8}}
*2020 – ''Downsizing'' (Kyle Books) {{ISBN|9780857838759}}
*2020 – ''The House'' [with [[Imogen Robertson]]] (Little, Brown) {{ISBN|9780751578799}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Tom Watson (politician)|Tom Watson}}
* {{UK MP links | parliament = mr-tom-watson/1463 | hansard = mr-tom-watson | hansardcurr = 4538 | guardian = 7104/tom-watson | publicwhip = Tom_Watson | theywork = tom_watson | record = Tom-Watson/West-Bromwich-East/517 | bbc = 25228.stm | journalisted = tom-watson }}
* [http://www.openrightsgroup.org/orgwiki/index.php/Tom_Watson_MP Tom Watson MP] on the [[Open Rights Group]] [[wiki]]

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