Cyril Smith: The Disestablishment

Doubts have been cast over the Metropolitan police service’s claims that Cyril Smith attended a house in south London which was allegedly used by a VIP paedophile ring.

Statements released by the force in 2013 and 2014 claimed that officers had “established” that the late Liberal MP, who was known to be a child abuser, had visited Elm Guest House in Barnes, south-west London.

That claim has been repeated by campaigners who believe there is evidence of a cover-up of abuse at the home dating back 30 years.

But a statement released by the Met to the Guardian on Thursday removed the claim, casting doubt on whether the late MP for Rochdale was ever there. A Met spokesman said he could not “reaffirm” that the Met still believed that Smith attended the south London home.

It is understood that the original police assertion that Smith attended the home was based on the word of a single witness. That same witness has now made allegations of misconduct against police officers, a source said...

Guardian.

The prime mover behind the foundless claim?

Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative MP and London mayoral contender whose Richmond Park constituency includes the guest house, told MPs in November that he had been “reliably told” that 12 boys gave evidence in 1982 that they had been abused at Elm Guest House.

To a hushed Commons, Goldsmith said: “The Met has since confirmed that Cyril Smith visited... It is impossible to believe there was not a cover-up.”

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