Today more information came to light about Rochdale Councillor, Mayor, Member of Parliament and lifelong serial paedophile Cyril Smith. For much of his adult life he had taken advantage of his dominant position in Rochdale to take advantage of vulnerable children and teenagers being looked after by local social services.
It turns out that Public Prosecutors lied to local journalists, denied that Smith had ever been investigated for offences, something which came to the attention of the Security Services, who did nothing to correct the impression that Smith was an innocent man.
That was not the case in 1988 when Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister was pushing for Smith to be made a Knight of the Realm. Letters were sent pointing out the various aborted investigations, the allegations and rumours and setting out why Smith should not be considered as a suitable person to be given high political honour. Thatcher ignored these warnings and Smith became a Knight.
I was struck by how similar this was to her relationship with 'Sir' Jimmy Saville, the serial paedophile and abuser, who spent some 11 Christmasses with his friends, the Thatcher's.
Mrs Thatcher recommended Saville four times for his Knighthood, on each occasion she was warned off by civil servants who pointed out the many rumours about his sexual abuse.
For Saville it was to be fifth time lucky.
We can look at Thatcher's friendships and protection of prominent politicians and public figures who faced similar allegations and just wonder; "Exactly what was going on there?"
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
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