A LABOUR MP has taken steps to try and strip Sir Cyril Smith of his knighthood.
An early day motion (EDM) has been tabled in the House of Commons by Stephen Hepburn, MP for Jarrow, but had only been co-signed by three other MPs as we went to press and is unlikely to be debated.
Mr Hepburn, chairman of the all-party shipbuilding and ship repair group, submitted his EDM on Tuesday.
It says: "That this House notes that for decades the asbestos industry covered up the fatal health threat posed by the carcinogenic mineral; further notes that some 4,000 people a year die from incurable asbestos-related diseases; expresses disquiet over letters revealing that on 5 August 1981 the then member for Rochdale, Sir Cyril Smith, asked Turner and Newall, a major asbestos corporation, to supply a speech to make in the Chamber of the House in a debate on asbestos controls ... believes such action was dishonourable and not in the interests of the public, nor in the finest tradition of this House; and expresses its support for those now demanding that the former hon member for Rochdale be stripped of his knighthood."
He said on Thursday: "Cyril Smith was a very experienced MP, who must have known all about these issues and I think it was, at the very least, naive in the extreme for him to make such a speech supplied by a major asbestos company like Turner and Newall.
"Even if Cyril Smith is not stripped of his knighthood as a result of my EDM, it will have highlighted the importance of the asbestos issue."
However, Sir Cyril said he thought the EDM was ‘stupid’ and he didn’t see the point of it at all.
He continued: "This MP is from the North East, so what does he know about Rochdale? Obviously he is being briefed by someone from Rochdale.
"In my days it was regarded as very discourteous for someone to table an EDM to which people don’t have the right of a reply.
"Really, I’m not concerned about this at all."
In an earlier interview with the Observer Sir Cyril said he did invite Turner and Newall to write a speech, but that he didn’t use all of it.
He said he had made his own mind up and visited the plant at Spotland to see what it was like for himself.
Current Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said Sir Cyril was being victimised by the Labour party and he found their actions ‘totally deplorable’.
"To call for Sir Cyril’s knighthood to be removed is nothing short of preposterous. This is a man who has given a lifetime of service to Rochdale and still continues to do so."
Mr Rowen added that the Labour party should be concentrating on fighting the issues of asbestos today, not of 25 years ago.
Rochdale Council leader, Councillor Alan Taylor, said Mr Hepburn’s EDM was a ‘pathetic attempt by a backbench, obscure MP at chasing headlines’. "Sir Cyril has done so much for us and this attempt by not even half a per cent of the parliamentary Labour party should be condemned."
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A.Carter (15/11/2008 at 20:09)
Cyril Smith was a popular figure, he came accross as simple soul who people trusted. I'm very sorry to say that this genuine trust seems to have been abused.
The daily Mirror quotes Cyril as saying he let Turners write speeches for him on asbestos so that he could look intelligent on a subject he knew little about. This makes Cyril sound like an honest fool. Why didn't he let his constituents know how he conducted himself in parliament back when he was our MP? How dare he risk the lives of his townsfolk by blindly parroting speeches that could have damaged the health of people all over Britain.
Lancashire Lad (16/11/2008 at 01:01)
In the letters page Cyril and his brother Norman have thrown all sorts of careful accusations out- a 'left wing plot' by 'fantasists' and local 'idiots'. The thing about such claims are they don't need to be proved. They act as a slur rather than a proper explanation.
What makes me question Cyril's claims that this is merely some local plot against him is the fact that this is being talked about all over the country. National magazine articles, a national newspaper and a parliamentary motion. This is hardly some petty local feud.
And before I am accused of being political let me make something very clear. I voted for someone I consider to be a gentleman - Cllr Peter Evans. I know him to be a man of true conscience. The more I read about Cyril Smith from a variety of sources the more uneasy I feel.
Babs Wilson (17/11/2008 at 00:29)
Well, I'm old enough to know about what has gone on in Rochdale over the years and personally I don't think that this lame response washes. Why is asking questions about Cyril so taboo? Is he a sacred cow that cannot be challenged? I didn't realise we were in a North Korean type state and that the cult of personality was alive in Rochdale.
After all the Rochdale Observer 80th birthday special pull-outs about Cyril, I am still none the wiser about all that Cyril has done for Rochdale. He has spent over 50 years in politics job, good for him, but does he really deserve a gold clock and our blind admiration?
What has a really done that is so special for Rochdale? He spent a lot of time in various education and planning committees in the Council. Attended a lot of bring and buy sales and fetes. Put his name to a few charities (that have been run day-to-day by hardworking people who get little credit for it).
As an MP he was unremarkable apart from being recognisable for having a very large frame and being outspoken to the point of rudeness, what did he really do? He seemed to spend more time acting the fool on the telly that actually conducting himself in Parliament. The news about Cyril having speeches written for him doesn't surprise me. Even his excuse that he did it to make him look intelligent is pure Cyril- defying anyone to criticise him and making sure there are insults aplenty to those who question his behaviour.
Looking at Rochdale today what do we have to thank Cyril for? A mess of a souless town centre and monstrous high rise and concrete flats? Even his own area is one of the most deprived in Britain. Rochdale has been a bonanza for property developers who have made our town into a hotpotch of ugly cheap buildings strewn with potholed highways.
There are many parts of Rochdale that are broken. But we keep getting told that we must doff our caps to Cyril Smith "Mr Rochdale"?
And before Cyril or his cronies accuse me of being some sort of leftie, let me make it very clear- the ONLY party I have ever voted for is the CONSERVATIVE party.
There are a lot of people who are sick and tired of excuses, threats and waffle from some local politicians. It is time for a few home truths and to dispel some harried old myths.
Personally I don't care if Cyril keeps his knighthood or not but lets stop getting so much drivel about how grateful we must be to Cyril.
Frank Proctor (17/11/2008 at 21:43)
Let me spell this out in short simple words for this nasty character who has been found guilty of dishonourable conduct in the court of public opinion. We know all about Rochdale, Turner & Newall and asbestos. The north east is currently being decimated with asbestos related death and misery- much of it as a result of products from T&N.
Cyril Smith was an apologist for asbestos. He promoted the product and lampooned those in Parliament who expressed health concerns. It takes at least 20 years for deaths to occur after exposure to this deadly dust. Some of the people who are now dying in our region were exposed after Cyril Smith was documented in those incredible 1981 letters to be cozying up the directors of T&N, asking them to write his speeches, getting the Chairman and Managing Director front row seat to watch his rehersed performance in Parliament the day after he had treated them to a slap up meal in Westminster.
People are dying every week in Newcastle from horrible asbestos diseases. Cancers from a material that Cyril Smith still insists never put the public at large at risk.
Cyril Smith's actions when he was an MP were absolutely diabolical. His unrepentant attitude still is unforgivable.
Don't preach to us Mr Smith that we don't know anything about Rochdale. There is dust from your asbestos factory in our lungs. We don't blame the workers or ordinary people of your town, but we sure as hell are not going to forget the shameful collusion of Cyril Smith MP with the most senior directors of a factory that peddled death around Britain.
Cyril told the Mirror newspaper that 4000 asbestos deaths every year is not significant. 4000 families losing a loved one to a painful, cruel death before their time is not significant?
How does this man sleep at night?
Frank Proctor, Newcastle
T&J.S, Failsworth (18/11/2008 at 08:57)
This year the Manchester Evening News and Channel M reported on the terrible illness and death of Leigh Carlisle - taken from this world at just 28. She died of cancer from asbestos. A beautiful young woman who took her terrible illness in her stride without anger or resentment.
Her parents are devout Christians who take comfort in their faith, are not publicly bitter or resentful about their tragic loss, but still miss their daughter ever so much. Their pain and sorrow is palpable. We pray for them.
They have a remarkable inner strength and decency.
Young Leigh was born in 1980, within months of the then Rochdale MP Cyril Smith actively promoting the continued use of asbestos. It has transpired that these Parliamentary speeches were written for him by the leading asbestos company Turner & Newall.
In recent reports, Sir Cyril remains billigerant and aggressive to the point of arrogance. He appears callous and unrepentant about his past deeds.
Beautiful young Leigh Carlisle lies in her grave. Sir Cyril Smith gets a 'tribute' in the form of a painting.
Frank Proctor (18/11/2008 at 15:37)
"but had only been co-signed by three other MPs as we went to press"
Well, since you went to press this figure has tripled and most significantly it has been signed by the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Committee that looks into asbestos health & safety.
I have checked the Rochdale Observer website and cannot find any of the letters between Cyril Smith and Turner & Newall to read. Why not? Are the people of Rochdale not trusted to handle the truth?
The Rochdale Observer article mentions Cyril Smith saying he "made his own mind up and visited the plant at Spotland to see what it was like for himself". The article make no balancing point of fact that thee is a letter from Cyril Smith MP asking to attend the factory to rehearse his speech and will go over the draft T&N wrote for him "ten times" before meeting up with the personnel director. Hardly a spot inspection to gather facts in an independent manner.
Mr Rowen's comments are not helpful. He suggests we should forget the past and fight today's asbestos issues. But they are linked. Without knowing what happened in the near past then how can we understand and appreciate what to do about the huge problem posed by asbestos today?
Babs Wilson (19/11/2008 at 22:21)
Is someone trying to pull the wool over our eyes just because Sir Cyril is facing criticism?