Former Liberal leader describes allegations against Cyril Smith as “tittle tattle”
Date published: 06 June 2018
Cyril Smith
A former Liberal leader has described child sex abuse allegations against former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith as “tittle tattle”.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight on Monday (4 June), Lord Steel said: “Be careful about what you say about Cyril Smith because nothing has been proved against him at all. It’s all been scurrilous hear-say and so far we’re waiting for the final outcome of the inquiry, it’s wrong to categorise him in that way.
When asked if he thought Smith was guilty of abuse at all, Lord Steel responded: “I don’t know but I think we have to wait until the inquiry has finished its work. I don’t think it’s right to say he was because of tittle tattle.”
For decades throughout his career, former Liberal MP Smith was the subject of repeated sex abuse claims. He was knighted in 1988, and died in 2010 aged 82, having never faced prosecution.
The findings of The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), opened in October, were published in April. It looked into alleged abuse which took place in Rochdale at Cambridge House Hostel and Knowl View residential school, when Smith was a governor.
Do you have a story for us?
Let us know by emailing news@rochdaleonline.co.uk
All contact will be treated in confidence.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Former Nutters restaurant will be transformed into an Albert’s
- 2Police clamp down on traffic offences and uncover £25,000 cash in major operation
- 3Murder investigation after New Year's Day knife attack
- 4Suspected shoplifter arrested with public’s help
- 5Snow and ice warning for Rochdale & Greater Manchester
To contact the Rochdale Online news desk, email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk or visit our news submission page.
To get the latest news on your desktop or mobile, follow Rochdale Online on Twitter and Facebook.
