Jeremy Thorpe was at the centre of this scandal, the leader of the Liberal Party whose secret personal life exploded in public and resulted in one of the biggest court cases ever seen by the UK.
Thorpe’s star was rising. At 30, he joined Parliament. He was a popular candidate to become Prime Minister. The public’s knowledge could have led to his demise and even prison.
Thorpe and Norman Scott met in 1961. Scott was a stable young worker who wished to become a model. The relationship between the two quickly became intense, and unbalanced. Thorpe gave Scott money, clothes and connections. He kept the letters Thorpe sent him. These letters were to become important evidence.
Scott remained in the same place. Scott spoke out about his affair to police. A formal investigation was not conducted.
They offered him help and small amounts of money. This did not help. Scott demanded attention and acknowledgement.
The events of 1975 took a darker turn. Andrew Newton, an airline pilot who claimed to be protecting Scott, approached him.
The police reopened this case. Thorpe, along with three other men, were arrested in 1979 and charged with murder conspiracy. Media called the case the most historic trial in history. He declared key witnesses unreliable, and spoke highly of Thorpe’s public record.
