Rochdale's abrasive Labour MP, Simon Danczuk has been pursuing allegations of child abuse by former Rochdale Liberal MP Cyril Smith. Most recently at Wednesday's Prime Minister's questions.
These allegations (or at least some of them) are not new - Smith was investigated by the police in the early 70s (unlike Jimmy Savile) and the allegations were dismissed. Now I'm not defending Smith if there is new evidence or the old police investigation turns out to be flawed and I hope anyone who does have information indicting Smith makes it available to the police. But at the moment these allegations seem pretty thin on facts - however often Danczuk uses his parliamentary priviledge to raise them.
The thing is Danczuk is friends with disgraced former Labour MP, Phil Woolas - the man who invented damaging racist lies about his Lib Dem opponent. Danczuk paid Woolas the following glowing tribute in his maiden speech...
This close relationship with the crook Woolas makes me suspicious that Danczuk is simply using the Woolas playbook and the cover that parliamentary priviledge brings to smear his political rivals. If so, then Labour will truly have scraped the bottom of a very dark barrel.
These allegations (or at least some of them) are not new - Smith was investigated by the police in the early 70s (unlike Jimmy Savile) and the allegations were dismissed. Now I'm not defending Smith if there is new evidence or the old police investigation turns out to be flawed and I hope anyone who does have information indicting Smith makes it available to the police. But at the moment these allegations seem pretty thin on facts - however often Danczuk uses his parliamentary priviledge to raise them.
The thing is Danczuk is friends with disgraced former Labour MP, Phil Woolas - the man who invented damaging racist lies about his Lib Dem opponent. Danczuk paid Woolas the following glowing tribute in his maiden speech...
"I also want to pay tribute to my hon. Friend Mr Woolas, who had Milnrow and New Hey within his constituency boundaries until general election day. He is an exceptionally good MP, and I consider him to be a good friend."
This close relationship with the crook Woolas makes me suspicious that Danczuk is simply using the Woolas playbook and the cover that parliamentary priviledge brings to smear his political rivals. If so, then Labour will truly have scraped the bottom of a very dark barrel.
Danczuk is one of those people who think anyone who has a different view than his must be evil.
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