Former Liberal leader Lord David Steel has been suspended from the Liberal Democrats following his evidence to the Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse about Cyril Smith.

The former Liberal leader this week told an inquiry of a conversation he had with the MP in 1979, in which Smith admitted his behaviour was investigated a decade earlier.

An article in Private Eye had accused him of spanking boys and conducting intimate medical examinations at a Rochdale hostel, but he insisted police took no further action.

Giving evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on Wednesday, Lord Steel said he “assumed” Smith had actually committed the offences - but mentioned his confession to no-one.

In a statement, the Liberal Democrats said: "Following the evidence concerning Cyril Smith given by Lord Steel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on 13th March 2019 the office bearers of the Scottish Liberal Democrats have met and agreed that an investigation is needed. The party membership of Lord Steel has been suspended pending the outcome of that investigation. That work will now commence.

"It is important that everyone in the party, and in wider society, understands the importance of vigilance and safeguarding to protect people from abuse, and that everyone has confidence in the seriousness with which we take it.