The Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe will meet Lord Brittan’s widow later this month to apologise for their handling of a false rape allegation.

Sir Bernard will meet Diana Brittan to apologise for Scotland Yard’s failure to confirm Lord Brittan’s innocence before his death last year.

The Met concluded the former home secretary had no charge to answer for a 45-year-old rape allegation four months before Lord Brittan’s death but failed to tell him.

Lady Brittan was only informed in October 2015.

Lord Brittan is still under official investigation by Operation Midland, an investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring centred around Westminster more than 30 years ago.

Leon Brittan died in January 2015 aged 75 after a long battle with cancer.