Politicians turned a "blind eye" to allegations of former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith's child sexual abuse

A damning report has found that politicians spent decades turning a “blind eye” to allegations of child sexual abuse, including those made of former Rochdale MP, the late Cyril Smith.

The 173-page Westminster report was published on Tuesday 25 February by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation, concluding that political parties, police and prosecutors “turned a blind eye” to accusations of abuse connected to parliament and government and “significantly failed in their responses.”

This includes failing to recognise abuse, turning a blind eye to it, covering up allegations and actively protecting high-profile offenders, including politicians.

Chair of the Inquiry, Professor Alexis Jay OBE said: “It is clear to see that Westminster institutions have repeatedly failed to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse, from turning a blind eye to actively shielding abusers.

“A consistent pattern emerged of failures to put the welfare of children above political status although we found no evidence of an organised network of paedophiles within government.

“We hope this report and its recommendations will lead political institutions to prioritise the needs and safety of vulnerable children.”

During three weeks of public hearings last year, the Inquiry heard from survivors, whistleblowers, cabinet ministers, MPs and police officers among others.

The report found: “There has clearly been a significant problem with deference towards people of public prominence, from the Whips’ offices to the police and prosecutors, although the investigation found no evidence of an organised paedophile network at the heart of government.”

In the 1970s and 1980s, MPs, including Sir Cyril Smith, were known to be active in their sexual interest in children, but “were protected from prosecution.”

For decades throughout his career, Smith was the subject of repeated sex abuse claims. He was knighted in 1988, and died in 2010 aged 82, having never faced prosecution.

Giving evidence, former Liberal Party leader Lord Steel said that because allegations against Smith had arisen before he joined the party, he saw “no reason, or no locus to go back to [it]”.

The report says: “This failure to recognise the risks was an abdication of responsibility, and the fact the offences were non-recent was irrelevant.”

The report concludes that there was a “political culture which valued reputation, far higher than the fate of the children involved.”

The report makes five recommendations, including ensuring all political parties have comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures. It also calls on the Cabinet Office to re-examine its policy on the posthumous forfeiture of honours.

The full report can be read here:

• www.iicsa.org.uk/publications/investigation/westminster