Kelvin McFilth Cyril Smith Deflection

The weekend’s revelations concerning the late Cyril Smith, for many years Liberal and then Lib Dem MP for Rochdale, initially focused on the advice given to Margaret Thatcher over the risk of awarding him a knighthood. She was warned that Smith had been the subject of accusations - and a Police investigation - concerning his behaviour towards teenage boys in the town’s care homes (see my take on it HERE).

But what was yet more concerning, and bizarre with it, was the potential involvement of the Murdoch press. As the Mail On Sunday told, “Civil servants feared the secret Smith police file might be made public in 1982 – when a burglary at the Fleet Street offices of The Sun newspaper revealed the editor was in possession of a copy. This revelation will lead to speculation that the break-in was linked to attempts to cover up Smith’s crimes”.

Note the form of words used: “revealed the editor was in possession of a copy” of a supposedly secret Police file on the MP. Editing the paper at that time - and infamous for his coverage of the Falklands conflict, that took place at around the same time - was one Kelvin MacKenzie. The news has put Kel, as Spike Milligan might have put it, in a very difficult position. So what does he have to say for himself?

Well, we know his response as Kel is now back at the Super Soaraway Currant Bun, albeit only as a columnist. So what does he make of it all? To his credit, Kel does not duck the issue - at least, not initially: “The Mail On Sunday ran an interesting story yesterday … claiming that some 30 years ago, Margaret Thatcher received a secret briefing on the risk of MP Cyril Smith being given a knighthood”. Do go on.

“Lord Shackleton … told the then Prime Minister that Smith … had indecently assaulted teenage boys [Kel misses the ‘allegedly’, for some reason]. In his note he added ‘In 1982, following a break-in at The Sun offices, Police inquiries revealed that the editor had a copy of the 1970 Police report [into the allegations]’ … Fascinating stuff”. So would Kel ‘fess up, or what? As if you need to ask.

“I was the editor of this fine organ [ha ha ha] at the time. Personally, I don’t remember the break-in at the office - nor does Scotland Yard - or possessing the Smith report, although I may be suffering from brain fade”. And, as Jon Stewart might have said, two things here. One, whether he contacted the Met to ask about the case or not (one has to suspect the latter with Kel), the break-in is a matter of record. And two, those not easily swayed by bullshitting former editors will note that there is no denial.

Nor has there been any complaint by the Sun over the recently revealed remarks by Lord Shackleton, who did not caveat his advice to Mrs T. Look at that wording again: “revealed that the editor was in possession of a copy” of the 1970 Police report into Cyril Smith. Kelvin McFilth had that information. And he just sat on it.

Then the Sun slagged off the BBC over Jimmy Savile. You really couldn’t make it up.