Former British Liberal Democrat MP Sir Cyril Smith abused young boys, an MP claimed in the House of Commons today.
Ex-Rochdale MP Sir Cyril, who died two years ago, is at the centre of allegations he administered punishments to vulnerable children such as slapping youngsters’ naked bottoms, Labour MP Simon Danczuk said.
He added: “Young boys were humiliated, terrified and reduced to quivering wrecks by a 29-stone bully imposing himself on them.”
Similar allegations have been made about Sir Cyril in the past.
Mr Danczuk, who now represents Rochdale, has previously highlighted the sexual abuse of young girls at the hands of Asian men in his constituency.
He levelled his accusations against his predecessor Sir Cyril during a Commons debate on child sexual exploitation.
Mr Danczuk said: “Attempts to suppress the truth are not new in Rochdale.
“The culture of cover-up stretches back much further than the recent grooming scandal, and extends right to the heart of our political establishment.
“If we are to make sure victims of child abuse are sufficiently empowered to claw back some of the dignity that has been taken from them, we need to be open about a widespread abuse of power in our borough.”
The Labour MP told a hushed House of Commons Sir Cyril, aged 82 when he died, was “a political giant” and one of Britain’s most recognisable politicians.
Mr Danczuk claimed authorities were aware of allegations the Lib Dem targeted children, but that a report into the accusations vanished.
Mr Danczuk added: “His career was continually dogged by allegations that he abused boys. These allegations appear in some of his obituaries.
“We know too that they appeared in police reports, though Lancashire Police have said recently they can’t find those reports — though they accept they carried out an investigation and it is suggested a report was pushed to the director of public prosecutions back in 1969.”
MPs were told the abuse centred on the Cambridge House hostel where Sir Cyril was given “a disciplinarian role”.
“I have been passed statements that were issued to the police in the 1970s regarding Smith’s activities at Cambridge House hostel, and they make grim reading,” said Mr Danczuk.
“For some unknown reason, Cyril Smith had a kind of disciplinarian role at the hostel and was given free rein to administer punishment to the boys.”
Mr Danczuk quoted from one of the alleged victims' statements, where the boy told police: "He told me to take my trousers and pants down and bend over his knee.
"He hit me many times with his bare hands and I pleaded with him to stop because he was hurting me.
"Afterwards he came to my bedroom and wiped my buttocks with a wet sponge." Mr Danczuk identified two alleged victims who have come forward and been named publicly: Barry Fitton, who was 15, and Eddie Shorrock, who was 17 when they were allegedly abused by Sir Cyril.
"This morning I was approached by another victim who does not want to be named because he said he was ashamed of what happened to him, and his wife is not aware of the abuse he received from Smith," Mr Danczuk said.
"What happened to them? Why was this ever allowed to happen?" The Labour MP demanded a Greater Manchester Police
investigation into the claims against Sir Cyril — a lifelong bachelor nicknamed "Big Cyril" — so victims could "have their voices heard".
Mr Danczuk said: "Confronting child abuse is a hard thing to do and we must never allow reputations or positions of power to deter us from doing what is right."
He added: "It's only by listening to victims that we can start to fully understand the crime of abuse in our communities.
"Only then can we ensure that mistakes of the past are not repeated again."
PA