The peer said under oath on Wednesday that he had asked Smith in 1979 about claims he abused boys at a Rochdale hostel in the 1960s, while a Labour councillor. While Lord Steel did not dispute Smith had confessed to abusing boys in the 1960s, he said he did not believe he was still offending when they spoke. Lord Steel said: “He accepted the story was correct. Obviously I disapproved but as far as I was concerned it was past history.”(Image: Getty)In 1988, Lord Steel nominated Smith for a knighthood, something he has since said he was “perfectly happy” to do. It did not seem I had any position in the matter at all.”(Image: PA)Smith, MP for Rochdale between 1972 and 1992, is accused of sexually abusing a number of boys.

Source: Daily Mirror March 13, 2019 21:22 UTC