several boys told police about the abuse but cyril smith was a politician who wielded power and influence want a man to represent you or do you want a party robot? smith had free reign here at cambridge house, now a private home. in the 19605 he ran it as a hostel for troubled boys. he was also involved at a residential school, knowl view, where men accused boys for more than 25 years. —— web boys were abused for more than 25 years. martin deegan was a care worker at knowl view. in the ‘90s he raised concerns about widespread abuse at the school. but nothing was done. you've got the education department, you've got the social services department, you've got central council and you've got the greater manchester police. and between those four factions, they decided for whatever reason not to pull this together and represent the young people whose lives had been ruined as a consequence of no action being taken on their behalf. the independent inquiry has found that the leader lied under oath when he said he did not know about the abuse. you were oblivious asked what was going on over those y

as councillor, mayor, then mp, cyril smith wielded power and influence. he was never charged. l for troubled boys. for 25 yea rs, staff abused pupils and sex between boys was thought normal. the independent inquiry found former council leader richard farnell lied on oath when he denied knowing about the abuse. so you were completely and utterly oblivious to what was going on at knowl view for all of those years? all those people you mentioned did not bring that to my attention. mr farnell says he did not lie, but the report authors are firm. clearly now that is a matter for others to take forward, but the panel are very clear that they felt he had lied in his evidence given to the inquiry. might be a matterfor the police. indeed it might be a matter for the police. rochdale has lurched from one scandal to the next, from cyril smith in the 60s to the more recent grooming of teenage girls. and there are many here who feel that the town can't move on until the full truth is told. rochdale council has apologised forfailing children. but police say they will consider whether to take

he asked me to ta ke faced cyril smith. he asked me to take my pants down.ring his hand at the side of my legs. this was years ago. yes. the pain is still very sharp. legs. this was years ago. yes. the pain is still very sharplj legs. this was years ago. yes. the pain is still very sharp. i am 70 now pain is still very sharp. i am 70 and then mp, the will smith mayor and then mp, the will smith wielded power and influence. he was never charged. —— cyril smith. he helped found a school for troubled boys. for 25 years, staff abused pupils and sex between boys was thought normal. the independent found that former council leader richard farnell light on oath when he denied knowing about the abuse. you were completely and utterly oblivious to what was going on at knowle view for all those years? they did not bring that to my attention. he said he did not lie but the report authors are firm. clearly that is a matter for others to ta ke clearly that is a matter for others to take forward but the panel are very clear that they felt that he had lied in his evidence.

rochdale has lurched from one scandal to the next, from cyril smith in the 60s, to the wider abuse ofn't move on until the full truth is known. and there is more detail to come. abuse allegations about cyril smith at westminster are expected to be examined by the enquiry next year. 0ur correspondent alison freeman is in salford for us now. alison, i mean, this is such a damning report, isn't it, into failings, majorfailings at damning report, isn't it, into failings, major failings at every level? it really is. it describes how those in authority failed to protect young boys for decades. 0ne of the parts of the report described how those in authority failed to see young boys, as young as 11, as victims. they were being sexually exploited in public toilets, directly opposite the council offices, but were viewed by those in authority as "authors of their own abuse." the finger was heavily pointed at richard farnell, the leader of the council back in the early 90s. today, the enquiry panel said in the report that they believe he lied when he gave evidence at hearings held back in october

as councillor, mayor and then mp, cyril smith wielded power and influence. he was never charged. was thought normal. the independent inquiry found that former council leader richard farnell lied under oath when he denied knowing about the abuse. so you were completely and utterly oblivious to what was going on at knowl view for all those years? all those people you mentioned did not bring that to my attention. mr farnell said he did not lie, but the report authors are firm. clearly that is a matter now for others to take forward, but the panel are very clear that they felt he had lied in the evidence given to the inquiry. it might be a matter for the police? indeed. it might be a matter for the police. rochale has lurched from one scandal to the next, from cyril smith in the 60s up to the more recent grooming of teenage girls. there are many here who feel that the town can't move on until the full truth is known. rochdale council has apologised forfailing children. the police say they'll consider whether to take action. judith moritz, bbc news. lawyers for sir cliff richard told

the late politician cyril smith who was mp there for 20 years is accused of being one of the abusers.he royals‘ latest addition. it'sjust over a month before prince harry marries meghan markle. we'll be talking to princess diana biographer andrew morton about life before prince harry. time for the latest news. here is rebecca. the bbc news headlines this morning. theresa may has summoned the cabinet to a special meeting this afternoon to discuss joining an american—led military strike on syria. the prime minister is reported to be ready to commit british forces to action, without pa rliament‘s approval, to punish the suspected use of chemical weapons by the assad regime. the government has been warned that thousands of eu nationals, living legally in the uk, could inadvertently lose their right to stay after brexit because they don't realise they need to apply to do so or will struggle with the process. a report from the migration observatory, based at oxford university, says those most at risk are victims of domestic abuse, children and elderly people. the home office will launch an

council. opportunity was missed to prosecute the town‘s former mp cyril smith. the town‘s former mp cyril it says he was unaware of the reports of knowl view sexual. reports of knowl view sexual. he has been suspend by his party. been suspend by his party. reiterates the claim he was never told. told. momentous and calleds for mr far nel to be held to account. to be held to account. that your main story? yes. thank you very much. there will be people watching who don‘t know what bomber command is. don‘t know what bomber command is. that is a good point. course including the dambuster, made famous by that film in 1955. famous by that film in 1955. world war ii, those figures are staggering. staggering. statue behind you, a tribute, but why has it taken so long? why has it taken so long? is a really good question, it was very very controversial at the time. very very controversial at the time. they were criticised by many for the loss of so many civilians. loss of so many civilians. they were not honoured after the war. not honoured after the war. yesterday, feel very bitter about that. tha