Leon Brittan’s ‘unmarked grave’ needs ‘permission of his family to visit’

Ex-MP Leon Brittan was buried in an unmarked grave for fears it would be vandalised, due allegations of covering up of a paedophile ring.

Lord Brittan, whose family were Lithuanian Jews, was caught up in a row over allegations that he failed to act on evidence of child abuse by senior figures in Westminster in the 1980s, died at his home in London.

The former  Conservative Minister, who served as Home Secretary, was buried in Golders Green cemetery after his death on 21 January 2015, in an unmarked grave. 

His burial on 28 January was ‘very private’, and upon the request of the family, only those who have their permission can see the grave. They outlined that fears of the grave being vandalised due to the accusations are the main driver for the decision, according to Exaro, the Investigative Journalist site.

A spokesperson for Golders Green cemetery said to them ‘It is an unmarked grave. I need the permission of his family to take anyone down to the grave.’We have to respect the family’s wishes’ according to Exaro.

Both the United Synagogue Burial Society and the Joint Jewish Burial Society said that it is common practice to mark a grave with the name of the individual in some form, between burial and stone-setting.