The Thorpe Affair: A Scandal that Shook British Politics
The Thorpe Affair of the 1970s is one of the most infamous political and sex scandals in British history. It irrevocably ended the political career of Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the Liberal Party and a prominent Member of Parliament (MP) for North Devon. The affair unravelled a complex web of intrigue, involving allegations of homosexuality at a time when it was barely decriminalised, failed assassination plots, and a sensational court trial. It also exposed the lengths to which Thorpe, his associates, and the British political establishment went to protect their reputations and avoid scandal. In this blog, we delve into the historical background, key events, and legal proceedings that shaped the Thorpe Affair.
Homosexuality and the Law in 1960s Britain
At the heart of the Thorpe Affair was the issue of homosexuality, which, before 1967, was illegal in the United Kingdom. For centuries, homosexual acts between men were punishable by severe penalties, including imprisonment. The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 began the process of legal reform, decriminalising homosexual acts in private between consenting adults over the age of 21 in England and Wales. However, the stigma surrounding homosexuality remained profound, and many public figures feared exposure would lead to personal and professional ruin.
Political figures were particularly vulnerable. Prior to 1967, several prominent politicians saw their careers ended by scandalous revelations. One notable example was Labour MP William Field, who resigned his seat in 1953 after being convicted for soliciting homosexual acts. Similarly, in 1954, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu was imprisoned for “gross indecency.” The atmosphere of secrecy and fear shaped the lives of many in public life, including Jeremy Thorpe.
Jeremy Thorpe: The Rising Star
Jeremy Thorpe was born in 1929 into a political family, with both his father and grandfather serving as Conservative MPs. However, he chose a different path, aligning himself with the Liberal Party, which had been in decline but still presented opportunities for ambitious young politicians. Thorpe was charismatic, energetic, and quickly made a name for himself, gaining a seat in Parliament in 1959 for North Devon. His charm, wit, and eloquence earned him admiration, and he soon became a rising star in British politics.
By the mid-1960s, Thorpe was well on his way to becoming the leader of the Liberal Party. However, lurking in the background was a dangerous secret. Allegations would later emerge that Thorpe had been involved in a homosexual relationship with Norman Josiffe, who later assumed the name Norman Scott, during the early 1960s.
The Thorpe-Scott Relationship
Norman Josiffe, born in 1940, had a troubled life before meeting Thorpe. His early years were marred by family breakdowns, brushes with the law, and struggles to find stable employment. In 1960, while working at a stables in Oxfordshire, Josiffe came into contact with Thorpe, who was a regular visitor to the establishment. According to Scott, their relationship developed into a sexual one, an allegation that Thorpe steadfastly denied.
Thorpe did, however, show considerable interest in Josiffe, arranging accommodation for him and helping him find work. Scott’s most significant grievance centred around a missing National Insurance card, which he claimed Thorpe had taken, making it difficult for him to secure employment and claim benefits. Over time, as Scott’s demands for support grew, Thorpe sought to distance himself, but Scott’s persistent claims of their homosexual relationship would later haunt him.
A Scandal Kept at Bay
For over a decade, Thorpe managed to keep rumours about his relationship with Scott from reaching the public. The British press, which was generally more compliant in those days, refrained from reporting on the scandal. Thorpe’s political allies and some elements of the press establishment helped maintain this silence, recognising the damage that such a revelation could inflict on Thorpe and the Liberal Party, which was undergoing a resurgence in the 1970s.
Scott, however, became a persistent threat. By the mid-1970s, he had made various attempts to expose the affair, including writing letters to Thorpe’s mother, contacting the police, and confiding in various people, including journalists. These efforts were initially unsuccessful, but Scott’s determination to make his accusations public would soon change the course of events.
The Murder Plot and the Death of a Dog
By 1974, Thorpe and his associates, particularly his close ally David Holmes, were deeply concerned about Scott’s escalating demands and threats. There were attempts to placate Scott, including financial support and vague promises of employment, but these efforts failed to silence him. According to later testimonies, Thorpe became desperate, allegedly suggesting to his associates that Scott needed to be “dealt with,” comparing the situation to “shooting a sick dog.”
This led to the most infamous aspect of the Thorpe Affair: the alleged conspiracy to murder Norman Scott. The plan, according to accounts from the trial, was clumsy from the start. David Holmes, with the assistance of a middleman, hired Andrew Newton, a small-time criminal, to carry out the hit. On 24 October 1975, Newton lured Scott into his car on the pretext of offering him protection from a supposed assassin. During the drive, Newton shot Scott’s beloved Great Dane, Rinka, but his attempts to kill Scott failed when his gun jammed. Scott escaped, but Rinka was killed.
The killing of Rinka brought the matter into the public eye. Scott reported the incident to the police, but initially, it did not receive significant attention. However, the bizarre circumstances of the shooting and Scott’s persistent claims of a plot against his life began to attract the interest of the press.
Thorpe’s Downfall: Resignation and Trial
By 1976, the scandal was beginning to unravel. The press, which had long been aware of the rumours, now felt emboldened to report on them. The shooting of Rinka and Scott’s allegations of an assassination plot became front-page news, and the media frenzy was unstoppable. Under immense pressure, Thorpe resigned as leader of the Liberal Party in May 1976, though he continued to deny any involvement in a plot to murder Scott.
Thorpe’s troubles were far from over. A police investigation into the alleged conspiracy began, leading to Thorpe and three others, including Holmes, being charged with conspiracy to murder Scott in 1978. The subsequent trial, held at the Old Bailey in 1979, was a sensational event, attracting huge media attention.
The trial hinged on the credibility of key witnesses, including Scott, Peter Bessell (a former Liberal MP and Thorpe’s close friend), and Andrew Newton, the hired gunman. However, none of these witnesses proved particularly reliable. Bessell’s testimony was tainted by his financial arrangement with The Sunday Telegraph, while Scott’s erratic behaviour and emotional outbursts undermined his case. Newton, who might have been the most damning witness, also failed to impress the court.
In his summing up, the judge, Sir Joseph Cantley, was heavily critical of the prosecution’s witnesses and their evidence. His bias against Scott and the other witnesses was evident, and in June 1979, Thorpe and his co-defendants were acquitted of all charges. Despite the acquittal, Thorpe’s public reputation was irreparably damaged. He had chosen not to testify during the trial, leaving many questions unanswered, and the public’s suspicions about his involvement persisted.
Aftermath and Thorpe’s Later Years
Jeremy Thorpe’s acquittal did not bring an end to the scandal. Although he was legally exonerated, the court of public opinion was less forgiving. Thorpe lost his parliamentary seat in the 1979 general election, marking the end of his political career. For the rest of his life, he remained largely out of the public eye, suffering from Parkinson’s disease in his later years.
Despite his fall from grace, Thorpe maintained a certain level of reconciliation with the Liberal Party. In 1988, the newly formed North Devon Liberal Democrat association made him their honorary president, a position he held until his death in 2014.