Sir Cyril Smith, MBE (born 28 June 1928, Rochdale) is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He served as Liberal (later Liberal Democrat) Member of Parliament for the constituency of Rochdale from 1972 until retiring in 1992.

His larger-than-life personality (and stature) and considerable political acumen have made him one of the most popular MPs in British history.— His nickname, "Big Cyril", was also the title of his autobiography. A common joke on the size of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in the early 1970s was that only one taxi would be needed to transport the entire party; after Smith's election, the party could fill two taxis. Another famous joke of the time described Sir Cyril as "a man who has had more dinners than you've had hot dinners", an insult he took with commendable good grace.

Smith was educated at Rochdale Grammar School for Boys then began work at a mill in Littleborough owned by the Harveys a notable Liberal family. They made him a party agent at a very young age but he soon crossed over to the Labour Party. He became a councillor and took particular pride in his record in education for having overseen the introduction of comprehensive education in his district with markedly less controversy than in surrounding areas. He was first elected to Rochdale council as a Labour candidate in 1950 and became mayor in 1966. That year he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List; he was advanced to a knighthood (knight bachelor) in 1988.

Smith left the Labour Party after a dispute with his council colleagues, and subsequently joined the Liberals. His defection, and subsequent election as a Liberal MP, caused some surprise after his prominent role in opposing Ludovic Kennedy, the Liberal candidate in the 1958 Rochdale by-election.

Smith won the seat of Rochdale at the 1972 by-election with a large swing from Labour to the Liberals, the final tally giving Smith a majority of 5,171. He won the seat on five further occasions. In June 1975 Smith was appointed as the Liberals' Chief Whip and faced much pressure from the press in the wake of a sexual scandal involving party leader Jeremy Thorpe. Smith resigned from the Whips' Office on health grounds. Unlike many Liberal Democrats he voted in favour of capital punishment.

In February 2006 Smith was taken to hospital after a fall at his Rochdale home. According to his brother, Cyril Smith had been weakened by dehydration and low potassium levels. Although retired, Cyril Smith is still active in his community, frequently visiting schools. His hobbies include collecting autographs.

Cyril James Smith, OBE (born Middlesbrough, England, August 11, 1909; died London, August 2, 1974) Biographies and Autobiographies, Women at the Piano was a virtuoso concert pianist of the 30s, 40s and 50s and piano teacher.