Jeremy Thorpe R.I.P.

Absurdistan

Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe has died aged 85 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, his son Rupert has announced.

He was elected leader of the Liberals in 1967, promising to turn the party into a radical pioneering force.

He stepped down as leader in 1976.

Covered End

Aah you've returned Absurdistan. Where have you been ?

SantaClaus

theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/04/jeremy-thorpe

Interesting obituary.

Stig

Gosh, I don't know why but I imagined he died years ago.

Wheresmeticket

Another product of fantastic privilege who, nonetheless was the victim of a successful stitch up, which, though never proven finished him in politics. Would we have been better off if this public school and Oxford-educated product of the upper middle classes had had a longer political career? Probably not. However I feel the way he was disposed of was one of the political scandals of the last age. RIP.

uie2

RIP

soapy_jones

Big big story of the 70 and 80's the whole Jeremy Thorpe scandal. RIP

SheffieldRed

SantaClaus said:

theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/04/jeremy-thorpe

Interesting obituary.

Agree.

I note the writer of the obituary is also dead!

@wheresmeticket can you provide a link supporting your point about a potential stitch up.

Lincsaddick

The easiest job in politics was his for a decade, the leader of a party with no possible chance of ever gaining power or much influence despite the 'Lib/Lab pact' entered into just after his 'resignation' .. he errrrr blew it over an alleged affair with a 'male model' .. a man from a long line of - mostly - conservative politicians, a bon viveur who overdid it ... RIP

MeebaumAzanitch

R.I.P. Jeremy. It brings to a close the saga of Scott Of The Arse-antic !

LenGlover

MeebaumAzanitch said:

R.I.P. Jeremy. It brings to a close the saga of Scott Of The Arse-antic !

No such thing as a safe Liberal seat etc,etc

LenGlover

RIP Mr Thorpe

fishyperkins

Coincidentally saw the Peter Cook parody of the laughably biassed summing up given by the judge in the case in a dusty box in my cellar last night - 'Here comes the judge' - worth a look if you are interested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyos-M48B8U

sm

RIP Rinka

ken from bexley

Always one to drag any possible mention with my hero, on the slightest of obscure references. Here we have Jimi and Jeremy, at the Albert Hall, it says 67 or so it claims. I thought it was when he met him on a chat show, Simon Dee . I never saw it, but he is playing the flying 'V', so probably around the time of the 'Burning of the midnight lamp'. recorded Recorded July 7 and 20, 1967 at Mayfair Studio.

swords_alive

SheffieldRed said:

SantaClaus said:

theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/04/jeremy-thorpe

Interesting obituary.

Agree.

I note the writer of the obituary is also dead!

@wheresmeticket can you provide a link supporting your point about a potential stitch up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorpe_affair which is full of references. (Rinka was his dog's name, killed on a walk, hence 'Rinkagate')

golfaddick

fishyperkins said:

Coincidentally saw the Peter Cook parody of the laughably biassed summing up given by the judge in the case in a dusty box in my cellar last night - 'Here comes the judge' - worth a look if you are interested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyos-M48B8U

Got this on the "Secret Policeman's Ball" LP ..............absolute quality.

addick2000

We need more judges like that !!!!! Great stuff