Motion Filed to Strip Sir Cyril Smith of Knighthood

Former Rochdale MP Sir Cyril Smith has faced a barrage of criticism following an admission that he collaborated with Turner and Newall, then owners of the town's asbestos plant, to fight against asbestos regulation despite evidence of health risks for asbestos workers.

Now the criticism has reached a new level with Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn filing a motion in the House of Commons to strip Sir Cyril Smith of his Knighthood. Smith was knighted in 1988 in recognition of his years of public service and had largely avoided the spotlight over the last decade until an August article in Rochdale's daily newspaper where he was confronted with correspondence between himself and executives with Turner and Newall.

Smith was quoted as asking the company to prepare a speech for a 1981 asbestos debate and almost jokingly wrote, "Let me have the speech you would like to make (were you able to!)"

Hepburn who also serves as the Chairman of the All Party Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Group, filed the motion on Nov. 11 and called Smith's request for a speech prepared by the company as "dishonorable."

The motion drew an angry response from current Rochdale MP Paul Rowen who condemned the motion as the victimization of an elderly man. He added that Parliament should concentrate on the current asbestos issues instead of focusing on the past.

Council Leader Alan Taylor had an even stronger response. He called the motion a "pathetic attempt at chasing headlines" by "an obscure Labour MP."

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