Liberals Give Thorpe A Muted Welcome (Press, 16 September 1978)

On 16 September 1978, the former leader of the British Liberal Party, Jeremy Thorpe, attended the party's annual conference in Southport, near Liverpool, amidst a backdrop of serious legal troubles. Thorpe is currently facing charges of incitement and conspiracy to murder a former male model, who has claimed that they had a homosexual relationship. Thorpe has vehemently denied these allegations. Despite the controversy surrounding his presence, Thorpe attended the conference with his wife, Marion. His arrival elicited a mixed, somewhat strained reaction from the delegates. Party leaders had previously urged Thorpe not to attend due to the sensitive nature of his legal situation. During his time at the conference, Thorpe sat on the platform for 25 minutes but did not deliver a speech. The atmosphere was described as emotional and awkward for many attendees. Approximately half of the 1000 delegates applauded as Thorpe made his way to the platform, with one delegate holding up a banner that read, “Welcome home Jeremy.” As Thorpe attempted to leave, he was forced to navigate through a throng of journalists and photographers, exiting through a back entrance. With a general election anticipated early in 1979, the Liberal Party is grappling with disappointing opinion poll ratings and is considered the third party in Britain, trailing behind the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. Thorpe’s controversial return to the party's fold has highlighted the challenges the Liberals face as they seek to regain support in the political landscape.

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