The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Lord Steel quits in the wake of sexual abuse report.
Inquiry told Steel failed to act on child sexual abuse claims
David Steel has quit the Lib Dems and announced his retirement from the House of Lords in the wake of a new report into historical child sexual abuse.
The former Liberal leader told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) that he had failed to act on allegations against prominent colleague Sir Cyril Smith, even though he believed them to be true, because it was “past history”.
As the IICSA published its longawaited report, Lord Steel said: “Knowing all I know now, I condemn Cyril Smith’s actions towards children.”
With reports suggesting there could be a fresh investigation into his behaviour – despite the Scottish Liberal Democrats last year concluding there were “no grounds for action” against him – he announced he had quit the party with immediate effect.
He said: “I have received indications that some in the Liberal Democrat Party wish me suspended and investigated again, despite a previous disciplinary process in Scotland which concluded that no further action was required. I am told that others are threatening to resign if a new investigation is started.
“I wish to avoid any such turmoil in my party and to prevent further distress to my family.
“I have therefore thanked my local party secretary for their stalwart support through the whole IICSA process, and have informed the local party that my resignation is with immediate effect.”
He also said he would be leaving the House of Lords “as soon as possible”.
The IICSA report told how the political establishment spent decades turning “a blind eye” to allegations of child sexual abuse, with high-profile politicians protected from police action as whips sought to avoid “gossip and scandal” which would damage the parties.
The long-awaited investigation into historical allegations against MPs, peers and civil servants working in Westminster found political institutions “significantly failed in their responses to allegations of child sexual abuse”.
Lord Steel’s evidence to the inquiry was cited as an example of this.
But he insisted that Cyril Smith did not “admit to me the truth of the allegations”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said it was right that Lord Steel had left the party and was stepping down from public life.
Mr Rennie said: “Cyril Smith’s acts were vile and repugnant and I have nothing but sympathy for those affected.
“This is a powerful report that has lessons for everyone, including David Steel, the Liberal Democrats and the wider political sphere.”