I Know Nothing About Murder Plot—thorpe (Press, 29 October 1977)

On 29 October 1977, Jeremy Thorpe, the former leader of the British Liberal Party, publicly denied any involvement in an alleged plot to murder Norman Scott, a former friend with whom he had a controversial past. The situation gained renewed attention when Andrew Newton, a former airline pilot, claimed he was paid £5,000 by a prominent member of the Liberal Party to kill Scott. This series of allegations has further complicated the public image of the Liberal Party, which was attempting to regain political ground following Thorpe’s resignation from the leadership 18 months prior. The controversy traces back to Scott's court assertions that he and Thorpe had once engaged in a homosexual relationship. This month’s developments escalated when Newton made his statements to the media about being compensated for the alleged murder plot after serving time for shooting Scott’s dog. Thorpe insisted during a press conference that he had no prior knowledge of any such scheme and affirmed his intention to retain his parliamentary seat. The political drama was further complicated by previous comments from Sir Harold Wilson, the Labour Prime Minister at the time, who had suggested that Scott was possibly being manipulated by South African interests to tarnish Thorpe's reputation. While Thorpe acknowledged that Wilson had expressed skepticism regarding the South African theory, he stopped short of completely dismissing it. Thorpe recounted his first encounter with Scott in 1961 when he sought Scott's assistance. He described their relationship as close and affectionate but asserted that there was never any sexual involvement. Eventually, he distanced himself from Scott due to what he perceived as Scott's excessive demands. Meanwhile, Newton was detained by police upon arriving at London Airport, and he was in questioning at the Bristol police headquarters. The police had not provided specific details on the duration of his questioning or the status of his legal representative. The affair has not only affected Thorpe personally but also posed significant challenges for the Liberal Party’s public image as they navigate the fallout from these allegations.

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