The benefits of freemasonry: How Cyril Smith evaded the law

Cyril Smith's enormous working-class appeal left the Director of Public Prosecutions
worried that the MP might be able to do something remarkable if he went to trial -
win public sympathy for paedophilia

For a long time, I struggled to comprehend how Cyril Smith's influence had allowed him to escape the law for so long. Then I got a call from a former officer with the Metropolitan Police.

There was, he said, a simple explanation. His enormous working-class appeal left the Director of Public Prosecutions worried that Cyril might be able to do something remarkable if he went to trial — win public sympathy for paedophilia.

This sounds incredible now, but as the former police officer went on to explain: ‘They knew how popular he was in Rochdale and thought it might backfire. They thought ladies in Rochdale would be offering their children up in a show of support.’

My head was spinning at the thought. It sounded complete lunacy. But if you followed this story down the rabbit hole into the Seventies Wonderland you quickly had to acknowledge there were more than a few advocates for paedophilia.

The Paedophile Liberation Front and the Paedophile Information Exchange were two of the more high-profile liberation campaigns that sprung up at the time, seeking to reclassify paedophilia as ‘intergenerational relationships’.

One of the leading members of the Paedophile Information Exchange was the British diplomat, Sir Peter Hayman, who was later jailed. These weren’t simply loony fringe sects.  (more...)

How Cyril Smith evaded the law: Sickening folly of the Left who aided his cause by advocating paedophilia

The rest of the story:

'I've come to examine you': From bogus medical examinations to punishment beatings, how paedophile Cyril Smith used his powerful public image to abuse boys

Knighted by Steel and eulogised by Clegg: Cyril Smith and the indelible shame of the Liberal Party