Jeremy Thorpe - Revision history

LGBT-HP: Fix bare tag: MW 1.45.1 Cite requires self-closing

2026-07-10T13:07:50Z

Fix bare <references> tag: MW 1.45.1 Cite requires self-closing <references/>

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	==References==		==References==
	<references>		<references/>

	[[Category:Liberal politicians]]		[[Category:Liberal politicians]]
	[[Category:1929 births]]		[[Category:1929 births]]
	[[Category:2014 deaths]]		[[Category:2014 deaths]]

Wessexman: new image

2024-05-29T07:28:51Z

new image

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	The trial was scheduled to take place a week before the general election of 1979, but Thorpe obtained a fortnight's delay to fight the election. However, Thorpe was defeated in his constituency of North Devon.		The trial was scheduled to take place a week before the general election of 1979, but Thorpe obtained a fortnight's delay to fight the election. However, Thorpe was defeated in his constituency of North Devon.
			[[File:Thorpebadgec1979.JPG\|thumb\|left\|badge produced at time of Thorpe's murder conspiracy]]
	==Trial==		==Trial==
	Thorpe and the three other accused were put on trial at Number One Court at the [[Old Bailey]] on 8 May 1979, a week after Thorpe had lost his seat. One of the chief prosecution witnesses was former Liberal MP and failed businessman Peter Bessell, who claimed to have been present while the murder plot was discussed within the Liberal Party. According to Bessell, poison had been rejected as a method of killing Scott because "it would raise too many questions if he fell dead off a barstool". One alleged plan had been to shoot Scott in [[Cornwall]] and dispose of the body down a disused mine shaft.<ref>Roger Courtiour and Barrie Penrose, ''The Pencourt file'' Harper & Row, San Francisco 1978, isbn=0-06-013343-0</ref>		Thorpe and the three other accused were put on trial at Number One Court at the [[Old Bailey]] on 8 May 1979, a week after Thorpe had lost his seat. One of the chief prosecution witnesses was former Liberal MP and failed businessman Peter Bessell, who claimed to have been present while the murder plot was discussed within the Liberal Party. According to Bessell, poison had been rejected as a method of killing Scott because "it would raise too many questions if he fell dead off a barstool". One alleged plan had been to shoot Scott in [[Cornwall]] and dispose of the body down a disused mine shaft.<ref>Roger Courtiour and Barrie Penrose, ''The Pencourt file'' Harper & Row, San Francisco 1978, isbn=0-06-013343-0</ref>

Wessexman: Thorpe and the Albany Trust

2024-02-14T20:39:23Z

Thorpe and the Albany Trust

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	==Liberal Party leader==		==Liberal Party leader==
	In 1965, he became Liberal Party Treasurer and, following Jo Grimond's resignation as leader in 1967, he won the resulting party leadership election with the support of 6 of the 12 Liberal MPs. Thorpe's style, in contrast to Grimond's intellectualism, was youthful and dynamic, and was sometimes ridiculed as too gimmicky, as when, for example, he called for Rhodesia to be bombed after it declared itself independent in 1965. He was, however, a staunch defender of human rights, as exemplified by his prominent role in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. He was also a key figure in the campaign for Britain to join the European Community.		In 1965, he became Liberal Party Treasurer and, following Jo Grimond's resignation as leader in 1967, he won the resulting party leadership election with the support of 6 of the 12 Liberal MPs. Thorpe's style, in contrast to Grimond's intellectualism, was youthful and dynamic, and was sometimes ridiculed as too gimmicky, as when, for example, he called for Rhodesia to be bombed after it declared itself independent in 1965. He was, however, a staunch defender of human rights, as exemplified by his prominent role in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. He was also a key figure in the campaign for Britain to join the European Community.
	A colourful character, Thorpe was renowned for his assortment of Edwardian suits, silk waistcoats and trilby hats, as well as being a noted raconteur and impressionist.		A colourful character, Thorpe was renowned for his assortment of Edwardian suits, silk waistcoats and trilby hats, as well as being a noted raconteur and impressionist. [[File:P1240512AlbanytrustExexcMtg1966JThorpe - Copy.JPG\|thumb\|right\| Thorpe hosts meeting of the [[Albany Trust]] August 1966 (Manchester City Archives)]].

			Thorpe supported the [[Albany Trust]], which even met in his room in London <ref> Manchester City Archives hold a copy of Executive Meeting Minutes 1st August 1966 where he attends </ref>.

	His party leadership was not immediately successful. The 1970 general election was calamitous for the Liberals; they fell from 13 seats to 6 (winning three, including Thorpe's, by tiny majorities). But between 1972 and 1974, Thorpe led the Liberals to an impressive string of by-election victories, at [[Rochdale]], [[Sutton]] and Cheam, [[Ripon]], the [[Isle of Ely]], and [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]]. In the February 1974 general election, the Liberals gained 19.3% of the vote and won 14 seats. During the campaign, some opinion polls at times even placed the party as high as 30%, compared to the 8.5% the Liberals got in the 1966 General Election, before Thorpe's election as leader.		His party leadership was not immediately successful. The 1970 general election was calamitous for the Liberals; they fell from 13 seats to 6 (winning three, including Thorpe's, by tiny majorities). But between 1972 and 1974, Thorpe led the Liberals to an impressive string of by-election victories, at [[Rochdale]], [[Sutton]] and Cheam, [[Ripon]], the [[Isle of Ely]], and [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]]. In the February 1974 general election, the Liberals gained 19.3% of the vote and won 14 seats. During the campaign, some opinion polls at times even placed the party as high as 30%, compared to the 8.5% the Liberals got in the 1966 General Election, before Thorpe's election as leader.

Wessexman: /* Homosexuality scandal — "Rinkagate" */

2022-08-11T15:32:43Z

Homosexuality scandal — "Rinkagate"

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	Andrew Newton was released from prison in April 1977, and then revived the scandal by claiming that he had been hired to kill Norman Scott. On 4 August 1978, Thorpe was accused along with David Holmes (deputy Treasurer of the Liberal Party), George Deakin (a night club owner) and businessman John Le Mesurier (neither the actor nor the athletics coach) of conspiracy to murder. Thorpe was also separately accused of inciting Holmes to murder Scott.		Andrew Newton was released from prison in April 1977, and then revived the scandal by claiming that he had been hired to kill Norman Scott. On 4 August 1978, Thorpe was accused along with David Holmes (deputy Treasurer of the Liberal Party), George Deakin (a night club owner) and businessman John Le Mesurier (neither the actor nor the athletics coach) of conspiracy to murder. Thorpe was also separately accused of inciting Holmes to murder Scott.

	The trial was scheduled to take place a week before the general election of 1979, but Thorpe obtained a fortnight's delay to fight the election. However, Thorpe was defeated.		The trial was scheduled to take place a week before the general election of 1979, but Thorpe obtained a fortnight's delay to fight the election. However, Thorpe was defeated in his constituency of North Devon.

	==Trial==		==Trial==

Wessexman: /* Homosexuality scandal — "Rinkagate" */

2022-08-11T15:32:02Z

Homosexuality scandal — "Rinkagate"

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:32, 11 August 2022
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	Andrew Newton was released from prison in April 1977, and then revived the scandal by claiming that he had been hired to kill Norman Scott. On 4 August 1978, Thorpe was accused along with David Holmes (deputy Treasurer of the Liberal Party), George Deakin (a night club owner) and businessman John Le Mesurier (neither the actor nor the athletics coach) of conspiracy to murder. Thorpe was also separately accused of inciting Holmes to murder Scott.		Andrew Newton was released from prison in April 1977, and then revived the scandal by claiming that he had been hired to kill Norman Scott. On 4 August 1978, Thorpe was accused along with David Holmes (deputy Treasurer of the Liberal Party), George Deakin (a night club owner) and businessman John Le Mesurier (neither the actor nor the athletics coach) of conspiracy to murder. Thorpe was also separately accused of inciting Holmes to murder Scott.

	The trial was scheduled to take place a week before the ~~1979~~ general election of 1979, but Thorpe obtained a fortnight's delay to fight the election. However, Thorpe was defeated.		The trial was scheduled to take place a week before the general election of 1979, but Thorpe obtained a fortnight's delay to fight the election. However, Thorpe was defeated.

	==Trial==		==Trial==

Wessexman: reference to Thorpe not giving evidence at his trial.

2022-08-11T15:30:32Z

reference to Thorpe not giving evidence at his trial.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 11 August 2022
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	Thorpe and the three other accused were put on trial at Number One Court at the [[Old Bailey]] on 8 May 1979, a week after Thorpe had lost his seat. One of the chief prosecution witnesses was former Liberal MP and failed businessman Peter Bessell, who claimed to have been present while the murder plot was discussed within the Liberal Party. According to Bessell, poison had been rejected as a method of killing Scott because "it would raise too many questions if he fell dead off a barstool". One alleged plan had been to shoot Scott in [[Cornwall]] and dispose of the body down a disused mine shaft.<ref>Roger Courtiour and Barrie Penrose, ''The Pencourt file'' Harper & Row, San Francisco 1978, isbn=0-06-013343-0</ref>		Thorpe and the three other accused were put on trial at Number One Court at the [[Old Bailey]] on 8 May 1979, a week after Thorpe had lost his seat. One of the chief prosecution witnesses was former Liberal MP and failed businessman Peter Bessell, who claimed to have been present while the murder plot was discussed within the Liberal Party. According to Bessell, poison had been rejected as a method of killing Scott because "it would raise too many questions if he fell dead off a barstool". One alleged plan had been to shoot Scott in [[Cornwall]] and dispose of the body down a disused mine shaft.<ref>Roger Courtiour and Barrie Penrose, ''The Pencourt file'' Harper & Row, San Francisco 1978, isbn=0-06-013343-0</ref>

	Bessell agreed to appear as a witness in exchange for immunity from prosecution. His credibility was damaged, however, because he had sold his story to ''The Sunday Telegraph'' for a fee that would double from £25,000 to £50,000 if the prosecution was successful. Thorpe did not testify, but his counsel, led by George Carman QC, argued that, although he and Scott had been friends, there had been no sexual relationship. Carman claimed that Scott had sought to blackmail Thorpe and that, although Thorpe and his friends had discussed "frightening" Scott into silence, they had never conspired to kill him.		Bessell agreed to appear as a witness in exchange for immunity from prosecution. His credibility was damaged, however, because he had sold his story to ''The Sunday Telegraph'' for a fee that would double from £25,000 to £50,000 if the prosecution was successful. Thorpe did not testify <ref> Some claim this was crucial in the not guilty verdicts. See BBC news article ''Revealed: Letter that stopped Jeremy Thorpe giving evidence'' 23 April 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43631718 </ref>, but his counsel, led by George Carman QC, argued that, although he and Scott had been friends, there had been no sexual relationship. Carman claimed that Scott had sought to blackmail Thorpe and that, although Thorpe and his friends had discussed "frightening" Scott into silence, they had never conspired to kill him.

	Mr Justice Cantley's summing-up was widely criticised for showing a nakedly pro-establishment bias,<ref>Dominic Carman, ''No Ordinary Man: A Life of George Carman'', Hodder & Stoughton, 2002</ref> and it made headlines when he described Scott as "a crook, an accomplished liar ... a fraud". In spite of the judge's direction, the jury was at first split 6–6, but, after 15 hours of deliberation, it finally reached a verdict of Not Guilty. The four defendants were all acquitted on 22 June 1979.		Mr Justice Cantley's summing-up was widely criticised for showing a nakedly pro-establishment bias,<ref>Dominic Carman, ''No Ordinary Man: A Life of George Carman'', Hodder & Stoughton, 2002</ref> and it made headlines when he described Scott as "a crook, an accomplished liar ... a fraud". In spite of the judge's direction, the jury was at first split 6–6, but, after 15 hours of deliberation, it finally reached a verdict of Not Guilty. The four defendants were all acquitted on 22 June 1979.

Wessexman: John Preston's book 2016

2022-08-11T15:26:11Z

John Preston's book 2016

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	*Julian Glover, entry in ''The Dictionary of Liberal Biography'' (Politico's, 1998)		*Julian Glover, entry in ''The Dictionary of Liberal Biography'' (Politico's, 1998)
	*Dominic Carman, ''No Ordinary Man: A Life of George Carman'' (Hodder & Stoughton, 2002) - includes analysis of trial and aftermath.		*Dominic Carman, ''No Ordinary Man: A Life of George Carman'' (Hodder & Stoughton, 2002) - includes analysis of trial and aftermath.
			*John Preston, ''A Very English Scandal'' (Viking, 2016)- adapted into a BBC TV series starring Hugh Grant and Ben Wishaw broadcast in 2018.

	==References==		==References==

Wessexman: /* Member of Parliament */

2018-08-06T12:23:03Z

Member of Parliament

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	==Member of Parliament==		==Member of Parliament==
	Thorpe was adopted as Liberal candidate for North Devon (then Conservative-held) in 1952. In the 1955 general election he halved the Conservative majority. In the 1959 election]], he won narrowly. He remained MP for North Devon for the next 20 years.		Thorpe was adopted as Liberal candidate for North Devon (then Conservative-held) in 1952. In the 1955 general election he halved the Conservative majority. In the 1959 election, he won narrowly. He remained MP for North Devon for the next 20 years.

	==Liberal Party leader==		==Liberal Party leader==

Ross Burgess at 16:09, 12 March 2016

2016-03-12T16:09:38Z

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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Thorpe was the son and grandson of of Conservative MPs. He was educated at [[Eton College]] and Trinity College, [[Oxford]], where he studied Law. He was very politically and socially active at Oxford, becoming President of the Liberal Club and the Law Society and finally President of the Oxford Union in 1951. He was called to the bar in 1954, whilst working as a TV interviewer.		Thorpe was the son and grandson of of Conservative MPs. He was educated at [[Eton College]] and [[Trinity College, Oxford]], where he studied Law. He was very politically and socially active at Oxford, becoming President of the Liberal Club and the Law Society and finally President of the Oxford Union in 1951. He was called to the bar in 1954, whilst working as a TV interviewer.

	==Member of Parliament==		==Member of Parliament==

Ross Burgess at 19:07, 6 December 2014

2014-12-06T19:07:20Z

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	[[File:Jeremy Thorpe.jpg\|thumb\|Jeremy Thorpe]]'''Jeremy Thorpe''' (John Jeremy Thorpe, ~~born 1929–2014~~) is a ~~former~~ politician who was leader of the [[Liberal Party]] from 1967 to 1976 and MP for North [[Devon]] from 1959 to 1979.		[[File:Jeremy Thorpe.jpg\|thumb\|Jeremy Thorpe]]'''Jeremy Thorpe''' (John Jeremy Thorpe, 1929–2014) was a Liberal politician who was leader of the [[Liberal Party]] from 1967 to 1976 and MP for North [[Devon]] from 1959 to 1979.

	His political career was severely damaged when an acquaintance, Norman Scott, claimed to have had a love affair with Thorpe in the early 1960s, at a time when homosexual acts were illegal in Britain. The scandal forced Thorpe to resign as Liberal Party leader in 1976. He denied the claims of a homosexual affair and was charged with conspiring to murder Scott, though he was acquitted of these charges in 1979, shortly after losing his seat in the general election.		His political career was severely damaged when an acquaintance, Norman Scott, claimed to have had a love affair with Thorpe in the early 1960s, at a time when homosexual acts were illegal in Britain. The scandal forced Thorpe to resign as Liberal Party leader in 1976. He denied the claims of a homosexual affair and was charged with conspiring to murder Scott, though he was acquitted of these charges in 1979, shortly after losing his seat in the general election.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Thorpe is the son and grandson of of Conservative MPs. He was educated at [[Eton College]] and Trinity College, [[Oxford]], where he studied Law. He was very politically and socially active at Oxford, becoming President of the Liberal Club and the Law Society and finally President of the Oxford Union in 1951. He was called to the bar in 1954, whilst working as a TV interviewer.		Thorpe was the son and grandson of of Conservative MPs. He was educated at [[Eton College]] and Trinity College, [[Oxford]], where he studied Law. He was very politically and socially active at Oxford, becoming President of the Liberal Club and the Law Society and finally President of the Oxford Union in 1951. He was called to the bar in 1954, whilst working as a TV interviewer.

	==Member of Parliament==		==Member of Parliament==
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	==Later life==		==Later life==
	Not long after the end of the trial Thorpe was found to have Parkinson's Disease, and retired from public life~~. For the past twenty years his disease has been at an advanced stage~~. However, in 1997 he visited the [[Liberal Democrat]] party conference and was given a standing ovation by party members. He attended the funeral of [[Roy Jenkins]] in 2003.		Not long after the end of the trial Thorpe was found to have Parkinson's Disease, and retired from public life. However in 1997 he visited the [[Liberal Democrat]] party conference and was given a standing ovation by party members. He attended the funeral of [[Roy Jenkins]] in 2003.

	In 1999 Thorpe published his memoirs, entitled ''In My Own Time'', in which he described key episodes in his political life. He did not, however, shed any further light on the Norman Scott affair.		In 1999 Thorpe published his memoirs, entitled ''In My Own Time'', in which he described key episodes in his political life. He did not, however, shed any further light on the Norman Scott affair.

	Thorpe ~~has~~ never made any public statements regarding his sexual orientation.		Thorpe never made any public statements regarding his sexual orientation.

	==Possible involvement of Jack Straw==		==Possible involvement of Jack Straw==