A very English Scandal

Brilliant. Just brilliant. British acting and filming at it’s best. I’m not at all sure about how it’ll affect our politician’s standing when it goes out on general release around the world though. I hope the world realises things have changed and our politians and judiciary are now honest and of good moral character. (They are aren’t they!)

Isn’t it interesting how attitudes and opinions have changed over the three weeks of the dramas transmission?
Go back to the beginning of the thread and you should see what I mean ?

I loved the Morris Minor police car?

Well looks like the point of the drama escaped some people altogether

We thought it was very good but can't believe how biased the judge's summing up was - presumably based on fact. We recorded the documentary on BBC4 after it so will watch that tonight. Quite nice to see the updates at the end and that Norman Scott is still alive.

What do you consider to be the point, Mawbroon?

Until I read about it, I didn’t realise that the drama was based on true events . I wasn’t aware of the scandal at the time although I have heard of Jeremy Thorpe ( found him quite creepy ) . I watched the BBC 4 documentary last night and can honestly say I was gobsmacked ( talk about the truth being stranger than fiction) that the police, the civil service, the establishment and the judiciary were all “ in on it” and helped in the cover up / acquittal of JT .

Gosh, gillybob, were you just a child at the time? I was in my 20s and remember it all very clearly. I remember being amazed at how bizarre the happenings were, but not being surprised by the whole affair, any study of politics, no matter how far back (or forward), is littered with tales of cover-ups and show trials.

Bit naive there gillybob it’s a constant and I m sure many things about today’s politics will come out 20/30 years from now

Why naive ? BlueBelle ? I didn’t follow politics when I was in primary school !

Grandma70s Mon 04-Jun-18 09:09:22
What do you consider to be the point, MawBroon

Where to start?
Political machinations, perverting the course of justice, sexual exploitation by people who should have had more principles, the covering up of frankly appalling behaviour by those who claim to be able to run the country and consequently our lives, collusion by the authorities including the police and judiciary,
(Oh and some nostalgic references to our youth including panda cars )
Quis custodiet ipsos custodientes ?

I mentioned the Panda cars as an amusing aside? sorry if you considered it to be shallow or flippant. I did not assume that was the whole point of the drama. I did say earlier that it was a complete miscarriage of justice. I agree about all the establishment coverups and the appalling biased direction of the judge.

Big apologies Gillybob I didn’t realise you were so young and no of course you wouldn’t follow it in primary school and that explains it you little spring chicken you

I took a breathe in when I saw that little panda car I d actually forgotten them crystaltips of course s drama set in our past life throws up all sorts as well as the actual story

Everything Maw says and more. I thought it was brilliant on all levels even though some bits of the first episode I found uncomfortable. But I don’t like any sex scenes - too voyeristic. How we survived as a nation I really don’t know. The public school ruling classes were (and I fear still are to an extent) jaw droppingly amoral.

I enjoyed the nostalgia of the cars, etc and the farce like events too. It was a farce. Just a rather serious one.

I couldn’t make out why I missed the actual trial until the date came up and I realised it coincides with the birth of DD2.

Watching Points of View yesterday afternoon I was amazed at the viewer(s) who pointed out that the episode of Fawlty Towers being shown in the background was actually aired three years later.

Some people are really good at spotting anachronisms.

The ‘ruling classes’ were presumably also responsible for the absurd anti-gay laws, without which none of this would have happened. Or maybe it was all the fault of religion.

Eloethan wrote:

I think it was pretty clear from the documentary that followed the dramatisation that the establishment certainly closed ranks and hid information in order to protect one of its own. Being a homosexual or engaging in any other sexual activities that at that time were considered improper, did pose security risks. This had already been demonstrated in other cases (eg Vassell being blackmailed to spy for Russia) and so people like the Home Secretary were, it appears, in dereliction of their duty.

The establishment protected one of its own because otherwise there was a danger to national security. The Profumo affair and the Philby affair were other cases in point of protection of public security. Otherwise even then it would not matter all that much if any public figure was a bugger, a murderer by proxy, a party animal, or a communist sympathiser.

I agree with Paddyann. The ethic in question is that the end does not justify the means. Public security does not justify travesty of justice. What is a country worth if it hasn't got a soul?

No apology needed BlueBelle I was born in 1962 . As I said I have heard of JT but didn’t have a clue about the “scandal” surrounding him.

Resident humourist Dumpling :^I hope the world realises things have changed and our politians and judiciary are now honest and of good moral character. (They are aren’t they!)^

Political machinations and police cover ups. So true MawBroon.
The missing paedophile dossier (mysteriously lost by Theresa May when she was at the Home Office, mentioned by paddyann), the inquiry into historical child abuse that has been delayed and delayed, Doctor David Kelly’s mysterious death amid the “Weapons of Mass destruction” debate, and probably many more shady cover ups that we don’t know about.

And we live in an open honest democracy with press freedom. Not somewhere like Russia or China. I do wonder if there’s a fat bald bloke with a fluffy white cat on his lap somewhere pulling all the strings.

I too was amazed at the striking likeness of the real life characters seen in the BBC4 documentary at 10pm and the actors playing the parts in the drama, brilliant casting all round. This was a drama on many levels I thought; the distressing necessity of keeping one's homosexual behaviour suppressed due to anti-sodomy laws, the need to keep up a respectable appearance and the associated unhappiness, and the use and abuse of the lower classes by the ruling classes. The corruption and cover ups was mind blowing. It does make me happy to be living in times which, although not perfect, at least a public and political figure doesn't have to suppress their sexuality to succeed, being homosexual is no longer the end of one's political career, in general anyway ( not sure about the policy of the DUP on this subject). Interesting comment on Radio 4 Today programme this morning, the drama was described as a love story which I suppose it was over all, albeit a sad, unfulfilled one. Thought Thorpe's second wife was a marvellous character, stood by him, nursed him to the end, and was not apparently fazed by anything.

in Scotland we had 4 out of six party leaders who were gay with only Willie Rennie of Lib Dem and Nicola Sturgeon being heterosexual.Now of cousre Kezia has left the leadership of the scottish branch of Labour and Ruth is pregnant,Who could have forseen that in the late 70's ? A pregnant gay leader of Scottish conservatives .Certainly something the DUP have issues with.

And all in our life time!

I was born in 1962
Just a babe!