Prompt Cast
The Jeremy Thorpe Scandal: A Tale of Murder, Politics, and Scandal in 1970s Britain
TLDR The Jeremy Thorpe scandal rocked 1970s Britain as the leader of the Liberal Party was accused of conspiring to murder his former lover, Norman Scott. Despite a sensational trial, Thorpe was acquitted, but the scandal left a lasting impact on British politics.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Jeremy Thorpe scandal involved the leader of the Liberal Party in the 1970s being accused of conspiring to murder his former lover, leading to a sensational and bizarre story that captivated 1970s Britain.
05:55
Jeremy Thorpe, a flamboyant and talented politician, became the leader of the Liberal Party despite coming from a Tory family, as the Liberal Party provided him with an easy path to leadership and allowed him to champion progressive causes such as opposition to apartheid.
10:24
Jeremy Thorpe, a flamboyant and talented politician, meets Norman Scott, a emotionally damaged stable hand, in 1961 and becomes involved in a complicated relationship with him, including Scott's obsession with getting a new national insurance card.
15:17
Jeremy Thorpe becomes leader of the Liberal Party in 1967, but the stigma of homosexuality still exists despite the decriminalization, and his complicated relationship with Norman Scott becomes a potential scandal.
20:13
Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the Liberal Party in the 1970s, may have considered murdering his lover, Norman Scott, due to Scott's demands for money and attention.
25:18
Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the Liberal Party, considers various schemes to get rid of his lover Norman Scott, including breaking his neck in a pub, poisoning him and throwing his body down a mineshaft, or having him eaten by alligators in Florida.
29:54
Thorpe enlists the help of a carpet salesman named John Lamezera, who then recruits a man named George Deakin to find a hitman, eventually leading to Andrew Newton, an airline pilot, who agrees to kill Norman Scott but ends up shooting Scott's dog instead when the gun jams.
34:40
The story of Jeremy Thorpe's attempted assassination of Norman Scott starts to gain credibility as Scott gives his letters to the newspapers and Thorpe's old friend Peter Bessel starts talking to the press, leading to a feeding frenzy of lurid allegations in the media.
39:13
Jeremy Thorpe is charged with conspiracy to murder, but his trial ends in his acquittal due to a flimsy prosecution case and potential witness tampering.
44:09
Jeremy Thorpe receives money from a British billionaire, which he keeps in a separate account and uses to pay the hitman, suggesting his involvement in the attempt to kill Norman Scott.
48:44
The podcast ends with a discussion about famous dogs throughout history, including Gelert, Lincoln's dog Phaedo, and the dog that Adolf Hitler lost in the trenches of World War I.
53:18
The episode ends with a discussion about the history of Iran and its influence on the Middle East today.
Categories:
History
