Greater Manchester police is examining whether to widen inquiry surrounding abuse of boys by the late Liberal MP
Police are reportedly reviewing whether there is evidence that alleged sexual abuse committed by the late Liberal MP Cyril Smith was covered up by individuals at Rochdale council.
An investigation is already under way into allegations that Smith raped boys at Rochdale's Knowl View residential school, which closed in 1992, and abused boys at the privately run Cambridge House children's care home, which closed in 1965.
Greater Manchester police is now examining whether to widen the force's inquiry to look into whether there was a coverup by individuals at Rochdale council, one of the local authorities that ran the Knowl View school.
Tim Farron, the president of the Liberal Democrats, said on Saturday that the party needed to answer serious questions about who knew that Smith faced allegations of sex abuse. Farron said a police investigation was the best way of dealing with the claims against the politician, who died in 2010 aged 82.
Smith was originally a Labour councillor in Rochdale and later a Liberal, then Liberal Democrat, MP for the town from 1972 to 1992.
"The party absolutely, as the Labour party must also … and indeed Rochdale civic society as a whole, need to answer serious questions as to who knew what and when," said Farron.
In a statement earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats denounced Smith as "repugnant" after a book by the most recent incumbent as MP in Smith's Rochdale seat, Labour's Simon Danczuk, detailed repeated crimes by the politician and drew similarities with serial sex offender Jimmy Savile.
Danczuk contested the Liberal party's assertion that it had been entirely ignorant. He told the Observer: "It is a nonsense for the Liberals to claim they knew nothing. Senior Liberal MPs like [former member] Michael Meadowcroft have already admitted they knew of the rumours and didn't do much to investigate them."
An independent review into the way Knowl View was run is due to report back to Rochdale council next month. Andrew Warnock QC has been given the task of looking into all council decision making about the school, where Smith had served as chairman of governors.
See also: Cyril Smith: police identify 10 new suspects in 'child sex ring cover up'
An investigation is already under way into allegations that Smith raped boys at Rochdale's Knowl View residential school, which closed in 1992, and abused boys at the privately run Cambridge House children's care home, which closed in 1965.
Greater Manchester police is now examining whether to widen the force's inquiry to look into whether there was a coverup by individuals at Rochdale council, one of the local authorities that ran the Knowl View school.
Tim Farron, the president of the Liberal Democrats, said on Saturday that the party needed to answer serious questions about who knew that Smith faced allegations of sex abuse. Farron said a police investigation was the best way of dealing with the claims against the politician, who died in 2010 aged 82.
Smith was originally a Labour councillor in Rochdale and later a Liberal, then Liberal Democrat, MP for the town from 1972 to 1992.
"The party absolutely, as the Labour party must also … and indeed Rochdale civic society as a whole, need to answer serious questions as to who knew what and when," said Farron.
In a statement earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats denounced Smith as "repugnant" after a book by the most recent incumbent as MP in Smith's Rochdale seat, Labour's Simon Danczuk, detailed repeated crimes by the politician and drew similarities with serial sex offender Jimmy Savile.
Danczuk contested the Liberal party's assertion that it had been entirely ignorant. He told the Observer: "It is a nonsense for the Liberals to claim they knew nothing. Senior Liberal MPs like [former member] Michael Meadowcroft have already admitted they knew of the rumours and didn't do much to investigate them."
An independent review into the way Knowl View was run is due to report back to Rochdale council next month. Andrew Warnock QC has been given the task of looking into all council decision making about the school, where Smith had served as chairman of governors.
See also: Cyril Smith: police identify 10 new suspects in 'child sex ring cover up'
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