Cyril Smith

David Steel quits the Lords and his party.
He nominated Cyril Smith for a peerage after deciding allegations against him were "past history" – something that drew criticism from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
MPs were protected from prosecution in "a consistent pattern of failures to put the welfare of children above political status" – but inquiry finds no evidence of an organised paedophile ring.
Ex-Liberal leader said he assumed allegations against MP were correct after speaking to him.