Lib Dems have questions to answer about Cyril Smith's sexual abuse of young boys

Cyril Smith

Last week a light was shone on the sordid life of the late former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme that detailed Smith's abuse of young boys over many years.

The programme interviewed a number of Smith's victims and documented how he was allowed to get away with his dreadful crimes due to a cover up at the very highest levels.

Whilst calls for a thorough investigation into the establishment cover up at national level must be heeded, Smith's defenders at a local level also have questions to answer.

For years it was alleged that Smith was a deeply flawed man who had abused young boys - Rochdale Alternative Press (RAP) published such allegations as long ago as 1979 - and yet his Lib Dem colleagues nationally and locally chose to ignore this. In choosing to ignore the warnings about his abuse of young, vulnerable boys, they abrogated their responsibility to the victims of Smith's depravity.

The local Lib Dem party viewed Smith as an almost Messianic figure, and would have nothing said against him - despite the overwhelming evidence some still refuse to do so.

Smith's parliamentary agent was Alan Taylor, former Lib Dem councillor and former leader of Rochdale Borough Council, who still defends Smith and refuses to accept he was a paedophile, he said: "I thought it [the Dispatches programme] was so one-sided, it was pathetic really. For those people who knew him there was no new evidence at all.

"Regarding Cambridge House in the 60s, the police had been investigating but decided not to investigate further due to lack of evidence. It was all a fairy tale. There was no evidence at all.”

Former Rochdale Lib Dem MP, and close friend of Smith's, Paul Rowen said: "The only comment that I can make is that we have to let the legal enquiries take their course."

Dale Mulgrew, a current Lib Dem councillor, is Smith's Godson. Asked to comment on the programme, Councillor Mulgrew said: "I did not watch it, so I am not aware of the programme's contents." Asked to comment on Smith's paedophilia, Councillor Mulgrew answered: "No comment".

Greg Couzens, a friend of Smith's for many years, enjoyed Smith's patronage when he sought to be a Lib Dem councillor representing Smith's Spotland Ward. He said: "I was Cyril's barber and friend for many years.

"You can only judge a man as you find them.

"I found Cyril to be extremely hard working and passionate about Rochdale, politics was his life, his phone would continually be used at all times of the day, he was always there to help, even in retirement he wanted to know what was happening within the council and the future of the Borough.

"The Dispatches program was heart rendering for all concerned, the evidence against him did seem substantial if true, but it is not for me to judge, though very, very sad."

One of Smith's staunchest defenders in the years before he died, in 2010, and since was former Lib Dem councillor Jean Ashworth. Following last week's programme she said: "I watched the programme and felt very sad, angry and betrayed by what I heard. I had been a close friend of Cyril's for a few years and visited him regularly, more often, two-three times a week when he moved into a nursing home near to me. Never once did I know what he had done.

"As a mother to three sons and two grandsons my heart goes out to the victims who have gone through such terrible abuse, it is sickening. I felt sad, angry and betrayed by someone I once admired and looked up to."

In November 2012, in Parliament, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk called for an investigation into Smith and the covering up of his crimes. Mr Danczuk continues to call for the truth to be heard, saying: "We still have to answer the fundamental question of why Cyril Smith was immune from prosecution when countless police officers tried to bring him to justice for offences against minors.

"No one can understand why a politician was allowed to live above the law and abuse boys when the authorities knew about it. The truth behind this dark period of British politics has always been hidden and it needs to be heard.

"Edmund Burke famously said, 'Evil flourishes when good men do nothing', and I think this is true of Cyril's Smith's abuse in Rochdale and further beyond.

"I believe people across the political spectrum knew what was happening but chose to say nothing. That's what sticks in my craw the most. How could you turn a blind eye to this activity?

"I'm of the view that the remarkable way that Cyril's abuse was hidden set in train a culture of cover up that was repeated in Rochdale over the years. We need to smash this culture and make sure tackling child abuse becomes a number one priority for our town."

Asked to comment as current Lib Dem leader locally, Councillor Andy Kelly said: "Due to ongoing investigations we are unable to comment at this time."

Lawyers for the abuse victims have said they are considering taking action against the Liberal Democrats.