Fits the bill

I was interested in the recent report about the late Cyril Smith’s involvement in the corporal punishment of young boys and the role of David Steel as former Leader of the Liberal Party.

In the House of Commons, on 20 January, 1976, I tried to introduce a bill to abolish the use of corporal punishment in schools.

Hansard records that one of the tellers for the opposition was Cyril Smith and I vividly recall him enthusiastically “whipping” other MPS into the lobby to vote “no”.

To his credit, David Steel is on record as having voted for my bill.

Dennis Canavan

Bannockburn