SSV statement - Cyril Smith asbestos scandal

Jason Addy, Save Spodden Valley

Jason Addy, of the Save Spodden Valley campaign, has spoken out following the revelations surrounding Sir Cyril's Smith's involvement with Turner Brother's Asbestos.

Mr Addy says the claims made about Sir Cyril are "shocking and deeply disturbing".

He added: "To a lot of older people in Rochdale, Sir Cyril is a well-loved character. If the revelations made by the New Statesman are true, then many will feel betrayed. Especially as countless people in Rochdale have suffered, or will be harmed by the poisonous legacy of T&N and asbestos.

"It is important that all the facts are investigated without rumour, innuendo or malice. The past actions of Sir Cyril and T&N must be seen in the context of the times they occurred.

"As Sir Cyril has now frankly acknowledged he knew that T&N workers were dying in the 1980s but hundreds, back then, were not showing signs of illness. People worked hard and some earned good money at Turner Brothers Asbestos.

"Today, it is devastating to know that decades later a significant number are now paying the ultimate price- with their lives. Not a day goes by when many in Rochdale pray for the remaining good health of former T&N workers and local residents. Asbestos disease- especially cancer is an exceedingly cruel lottery.

"The cover-up referred to in this week's News Statesman and that previously revealed by the painstaking academic research of Dr Tweedale, regarded T&N's knowledge of asbestos cancer.

"The 1982 television documentary “Alice Fight for Life” investigated asbestos cancer not asbestosis. Many workers knew there had been some asbestosis risk by working at T&N- however the risk of cancer from the deadly product was a scandal kept secret for decades.

"In his response to Rochdale Online it appears that Sir Cyril may have mixed up certain dates and speeches. In order to be completely fair before commenting further, I need to make a thorough study of the archived documents that SSV hold or have access to. Rochdale Online readers have my assurance that they will have the opportunity to see all documentation.

"Of immediate importance is the planning application for hundreds of homes and children's nursery that is still extant for the former T&N site. It is important that matters relating to the New Statesman investigation are thoroughly examined to ensure that there can be no possible claims of malfeasance, bias or predetermination in favour of the developers' planning application for the former T&N site in the Spodden Valley.

"Whilst the suggestions made on Rochdale Online are true that Sir Cyril and his brother Norman Smith have never supported the SSV campaign, such a personal decision is entirely their prerogative and must be respected.

"It was, however, a sad irony that the New Statesman article featured Derek Phillips, a Rochdale man diagnosed in 2007 with the terminal asbestos cancer mesothelioma. Two years before, in the letters page of the Rochdale Observer, Norman Smith had attacked Derek's son, Dave Phillips, by labeling him a scaremonger. Sadly, the insult of “scaremongerer” was also used by Cyril Smith against other MPs in his Parliamentary speech on asbestos in 1983.

"I must take this opportunity to stress that Save Spodden Valley remains a strictly non-party political campaign. SSV has been supported by prominent current politicians of ALL parties at local, national and EU level. Asbestos cancer does not discriminate based on any party allegiance.

"Whilst SSV gratefully acknowledge the support of local Conservative and Labour party councillors, MPs and MEPs, any revelations about Sir Cyril must not tarnish the continued hard work of many prominent members of the Liberal Democrat party. Councillors Wera and William Hobhouse have been tireless in their commitment to health and safety on the TBA Working Party. Leader of the Council Cllr Alan Taylor and former Township Chairman Cllr Elwyn Watkins have defended the right for SSV to raise important issues at Rochdale Council meetings.  

"Finally, special mention must be made our MP Paul Rowen. He has supported local people and the SSV campaign from day one. At that time Paul was Leader of Rochdale Council. A year later, as our new MP, he made an historic Maiden Speech - the first in the House to remember all those who have suffered from asbestos related disease. Following on as Rochdale's MP from Lorna Fitzsimons, Paul has continuously spoken for asbestos victims in Westminster debates and with MPs of all parties on the Parliamentary Asbestos sub-committee.