A dad who battled 40 years to meet successive Prime Ministers over the case of his missing daughter has accused the Tory Party of using the family tragedy as “a political pawn”.
Richard Lee was delighted when Boris Johnson agreed last November to a “father to father” talk about the disappearance of Katrice, two, while shopping with her mum near an army base in 1981.
The ex-soldier hoped for a Downing Street meeting to boost his campaign for a probe into Royal Military Police handling of an investigation into what he believes was a kidnapping.
But instead Richard, of Hartlepool, was summoned to his local MP’s office for a chat with Mr Johnson who was in the former Red Wall town in the run-up to local elections.
“He offered to meet me and is the only PM to keep his word – so I’m pleased about that,” says Richard, 72. “But the way it was done made me feel aggrieved.
“I got a call saying could I visit the MP’s office on Monday and bring the file on my daughter’s case. I was ushered into a room.
“They said, ‘You’re going to meet Boris Johnson’. I said, ‘Pardon, how dare you’. They just sprung it on me. I wanted to meet in Downing Street as the profile would have given my daughter’s case more publicity. Instead I believe it was turned into a political pawn as the party elections were coming up.”
Mr Johnson, who had toured the town’s power station with MP Jill Mortimer, spent 20 minutes with Richard.
“I asked for an independent inquiry and told him I didn’t believe the Royal Military Police were fit for purpose. He said he would help where he could and he’d be in touch. We shook hands and he left.”
Katrice vanished in November 1981 on her second birthday near the base in Paderborn, Germany, where Richard was then stationed with the 15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars.
She had been with mum Sharon at a Naafi store. The RMP has previously apologised for failings in its investigation, including delays in interviewing key witnesses and not releasing a photofit of a suspect for 36 years.
Richard had a planned meeting with Margaret Thatcher in 1982 but it was cancelled because of the Falklands War. Every PM after that failed to meet him until Mr Johnson agreed.
“It should have been a pivotal moment, but the elation was taken from me. I will wait for a response Actions speak louder than words. Hope is all I have.”
A Government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister was pleased to meet Mr Lee this week to express his thoughts and sympathies with him and his family. He offered his wholehearted support.”
