Liberals Rally To Thorpe (Press, 19 March 1976)

On 18 March 1976, the British Liberal Party leader, Jeremy Thorpe, successfully navigated a leadership crisis, securing his position at the helm of the party for the time being. A meeting attended by Liberal Parliamentarians concluded with a unanimous decision that Thorpe would remain in charge until at least September, when a leadership election is scheduled. Despite ongoing pressures for his resignation spurred by personal controversies and the Liberal Party's disappointing performances in recent by-elections, Thorpe's fate was temporarily bolstered by a report indicating strong support for him among the party's rank-and-file members. Thorpe has faced increasing scrutiny related to allegations made by former male model Norman Scott, who claimed to have had a homosexual relationship with the politician, a claim that Thorpe vehemently denies. Prior to this meeting, it seemed that some party members were inclined to push for an earlier leadership election due to their discontent with Thorpe’s leadership. However, the reported backing from grassroots members changed the outlook for the party leader. This upcoming leadership election is notable as it will introduce a new voting process that emphasises the opinions of the rank-and-file members over those of the Parliamentarians. If Thorpe can maintain his support base among these members, he stands a good chance of continuing his leadership role beyond the September election. The Liberal Party currently holds twelve seats in the House of Commons, out of a total of 635.

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