Labour suspends former Rochdale leader after abuse inquiry

Labour has suspended a former Rochdale council leader following the release of a report into child sex abuse, saying he lied during the inquiry.Richard Farnell told a panel that he did not know about claims of widespread sexual exploitation in the town between 1986 and 1992.Mr Farnell claimed his colleagues at the council had not informed him of allegations surrounding the council-run Knowl View school and Cambridge House Hostel, which included evidence that late Liberal MP Cyril Smith was abusi