Now even Cyril Smith's family call for inquiry into child abuse claims: Relatives say they would co-operate but do not believe the allegations against him

• Intervention is uncomfortable for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
• He rejected calls for a full inquiry, headed by an independent figure
• Pressure intensified as former Liberal Party president claimed there was a culture of 'cowardice'

By Daniel Martin and Jaya Narain

Published: 00:08, 28 April 2014 |  

Updated: 00:09, 28 April 2014

The Liberal Democrats are under further pressure over Cyril Smith after even his family called for an independent inquiry into allegations he had abused boys.

In a statement, the family said they did not believe the claims against him – but would be happy to co-operate with a proper inquiry.

The intervention is uncomfortable for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has rejected calls for such a probe.

Last week he urged the police to investigate whether there had been an Establishment cover-up of Smith's activities.

Fury: Norman Smith (left), the brother of Cyril Smith (right), has slammed the abuse claims

But he rejected calls for a full inquiry, headed by an independent figure, or for the Lib Dems themselves to hold their own probe, saying only the police could do the job properly.

Yesterday Tim Farron, the party's president, claimed that if the Lib Dems held their own probe it would 'interfere' with the police inquiry.

But pressure intensified as a former president of the Liberal Party claimed there was a culture of 'cowardice' that protected Smith from allegations of abuse in the same way as the BBC protected Jimmy Savile.

Des Wilson said rumours of Smith's sex attacks on boys had reached senior figures, but then leader David Steel took no action because the leadership had their 'heads in the sand'. And he accused Mr Clegg of being 'more than naïve' for lauding the former Rochdale MP on his death.

Smith is the subject of two police inquiries into child abuse. The Crown Prosecution Service say they believe Smith, who died in 2010, did carry out attacks.

The Smith family released a statement on Saturday, saying they would welcome an inquiry. 'We find many of the claims bizarre and difficult to believe, an independent inquiry would determine their truth or otherwise,' it said.

'The person they are describing is not the person known to family, friends, colleagues and constituents.'

Smith's brother Norman, a former mayor of Rochdale, said: 'I don't believe any of these outrageous claims.

They're so shocking I don't know how they could have been hidden at the time.

'I think these people were damaged and they are just trying to ruin his reputation now when he can't defend himself. I think it is despicable.' Mr Farron has admitted the Lib Dems face 'serious questions' over who knew about allegations against Smith.

But he rejected calls for both an inquiry and for the party to hold an internal probe, saying the matter should be left to the police.

'It's very, very important that the police are allowed to proceed with full investigations without any kind of hampering or speculation on a political level,' he told Sky News.

Mr Wilson was president of the Liberals from 1986 to 1987, and led the Lib Dems' election campaign in 1992. In an article for a Sunday newspaper he praised a book by current Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk for exposing Smith as 'a serial sexual abuser of small boys'.

Mr Wilson said Lord Steel, who was Liberal leader between 1976 and 1988. did not take action because he 'hated confrontation'.

He said Liberal MPs at the time included a drunk, one who would hang around clubs with attractive boys, and a number who were having affairs with their secretaries. All this meant there was no appetite to challenge Smith.

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