In The News

Veteran liberal politician passes away

Veteran liberal politician passes away

The death has taken place of Sir Cyril Smith the former Liberal MP. He was 82.

He represented the Rochdale constituency for 20 years having been elected to the seat in a landslide over Labour in 1972.

Sir Cyril was very much his own man and was, at times, a thorn in the side of the Liberal party leadership. He once described Parliament as “the longest running farce in the West End”.

However, Sir Cyril was an accomplished politician and served as the party’s chief whip and also as spokesman on employment.

His famously rotund stature (he was reported to have weighed 29 stone at one time) made him very distinctive and for many years was one of the most recognisable characters in British politics.

He had been active in the Rochdale community long before entering parliament — being made an M.B.E. in 1966 for his public services.

Paying tribute, Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg said: “Rochdale and Britain have lost one of their great MPs, and I think we can safely say there will never be an MP quite like Cyril Smith again.

“Everybody in Rochdale knew him not only as their MP but also as their friend,” he said.

Sir Cyril retired from Parliament in 1992. He never married.

 

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