M.i.5 File Points To Smear Tactics (Press, 15 March 1976)

A report by the "Sunday Telegraph" has revealed a dossier from British intelligence agency M.I.5, accusing South African business interests of efforts to undermine the British Liberal Party through a smear campaign against its leader, Mr Jeremy Thorpe. The controversy erupted following allegations of a homosexual relationship involving Thorpe dating back 15 years. Thorpe, a prominent critic of South Africa's apartheid policies, has categorically denied the claims, which have caused a leadership crisis within the Liberal Party. Although party members have expressed their support for Thorpe, divisions are emerging regarding his continued leadership. The report indicates that the allegations originated from Norman Scott, a former male model, during a court case where Scott was the defendant. The dossier claims that these allegations, known to the Liberal Party since 1971, were strategically revived by South African agents using financial resources, to damage Thorpe's reputation. It suggests that the agents employed tactics including obtaining and manipulating a film featuring the daughter of a Liberal MP, falsely labelled as pornographic. Furthermore, South African agents are reported to have monitored Mr Peter Ham, the president of the Young Liberals, who has actively opposed apartheid and led successful campaigns against South African sports tours in Britain. There were also anonymous false claims made against Cyril Smith, the Liberal Party’s business manager in the House of Commons, and indications that smear attempts were aimed at several other senior Liberal figures. The claims stem from information provided by Fouad Abu Kamil, a former security officer with Anglo-American Corporation of South Africa, and now an artist based in Barcelona. The dossier's findings played a pivotal role in a statement made by Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson in the House of Commons, where he acknowledged the significant involvement of South African interests in the recent allegations against Thorpe, while clarifying that the South African government itself was not implicated. As the situation unfolds, the future of Jeremy Thorpe as the leader of the Liberal Party hangs in the balance, amidst mounting tensions and the resurfacing of past allegations aimed at destabilising his position.

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