MP Philip Davies says Sir Jimmy Savile must be stripped of knighthood if claims prove true (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Shipley MP speaks out over child-sex claims

7:00am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News By Chris Tate, T&A Reporter

Sir Jimmy Savile should be stripped of his knighthood if allegations of child sex abuse are true, Shipley MP Philip Davies demanded yesterday.

And Mr Davies, a member of the culture, media and sports committee, also criticised the BBC for covering up claims against one of its biggest st

ars.

Speaking from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Mr Davies said: “My own opinion is that we’ve got to remember that nothing has been proven so far and these are all allegations.

“But my point would be that if they were to be proven to be true, then he should be stripped of his knighthood.” Sir Jimmy had close links to the district, particularly Otley where he was a frequent visitor to its cafes and bought his trademark cigars from James Barber’s tobacconist.

“If people had known the allegations against him he would never have been awarded a knighthood in the first place,” Mr Davies said.

“And the BBC needs to investigate this as thoroughly as they can. There’s a popular feeling that its attitude has been to brush it all under the carpet.”

Sir Jimmy, who died last year, was knighted in 1990 for his charitable works.

Meanwhile, a Bradford couple in their 80s have revealed their own secret about Sir Jimmy – by exposing him as a charity bike-ride cheat.

William and Betty Taylor, of Laisterdyke, said they were in Otley some ten years ago when they spied the bleach-blond celebrity clamber from a limousine in a side street then join the cycle race in aid of the terminally-ill metres from the end.

Speaking exclusively to the Telegraph & Argus, Mrs Taylor, 85, said: “My husband William, who’s 89, and I have never told anyone what we saw until now – because we thought nobody would believe us. “We had gone to watch the charity race in aid of St Gemma’s Hospice and were sitting on a wall up a side street reading a book and a newspaper.

“Right in front was a great big car with bicycle handlebars poking out of the boot. A man got out, took out the bike and at the same time there was a puff of cigar smoke and Jimmy Savile stepped out with a coat on over a stupid pink and yellow cycling outfit.

“His mate produced a sponge and dabbed water all over Jimmy’s face and hair, who then took off the coat and rode the bike down to the end of the side street. When a group of cyclists came past on the main road, the big fake just joined in.”