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Post by tiptoes on Jul 18, 2021 13:29:29 GMT
In 1975 I was a naive, disinterested 16 year old when I heard this shyster of an MP had faked his drowning a la Reggie Perrin to start life afresh in Oz under a new name(s) which he had cynically secured from gaining the trust of unwitting recently bereaved widows. New outpourings reveal that this b*stard contrary to the socialist principles he was meant to represent lived in leafy Hampshire (rather than having a home in his constituency of Wallsall) and sent his kids to private schools. He was having an affair with his secretary but still wanted the support of his long suffering wife. His private business interests were only trading due to the support of dodgy loans and false accounting. After his death he was found to be a spy for Czechoslovakia for materialistic reasons rather than ideology. Whatever the failings of today's lot of numpty politicians they cant be compared to the egregious faults of this hapless charlatan. A spy, an adulterer, a fraud, a hypocrite, a crook, a glutton and a liar! It doesn't leave much, does it. Only tears of happiness when this evil rogue pegged out at the young age of 62. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9796639/The-story-John-Stonehouse-told-great-nephew.html |
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Post by tiptoes on Jul 18, 2021 16:11:28 GMT
As an antidote to the above warts and all book on John Stonehouse, his deluded daughter has published a naively sanitised tome excusing or mitigating his crimes and misdemeanors. This is her yin to her cousin's yang. Pathetic how such an amoral father can still induce loyalty from a misguided daughter.
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Post by liquidskin on Jul 18, 2021 19:49:32 GMT
Fam's fam, Fam. My daddy is doing three years for triple kidnap/rape/murder but if anything we're even closer now.
Sounds like Stonehouse lived a life, at least.
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Post by mrsdoyle on Jul 19, 2021 10:00:16 GMT
In 1975 I was a naive, disinterested 16 year old when I heard this shyster of an MP had faked his drowning a la Reggie Perrin to start life afresh in Oz under a new name(s) which he had cynically secured from gaining the trust of unwitting recently bereaved widows. New outpourings reveal that this b*stard contrary to the socialist principles he was meant to represent lived in leafy Hampshire (rather than having a home in his constituency of Wallsall) and sent his kids to private schools. He was having an affair with his secretary but still wanted the support of his long suffering wife. His private business interests were only trading due to the support of dodgy loans and false accounting. After his death he was found to be a spy for Czechoslovakia for materialistic reasons rather than ideology. Whatever the failings of today's lot of numpty politicians they cant be compared to the egregious faults of this hapless charlatan. A spy, an adulterer, a fraud, a hypocrite, a crook, a glutton and a liar! It doesn't leave much, does it. Only tears of happiness when this evil rogue pegged out at the young age of 62. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9796639/The-story-John-Stonehouse-told-great-nephew.htmlAs soon as I saw the thread name I thought John Stonehouse! I didn’t know he was such a bad egg, I found the whole thing quite funny once it came out he did a Reggie as I recall |
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Post by tiptoes on Jan 3, 2023 14:55:16 GMT
I'm sure we're all watching the 3 part drama series on ITV about this blackguard and despite the artistic license there's no hiding the smug, selfish, self serving characteristics of this chancer. No I'm a Celebrity in those days for this wrong'un to rehabilitate himself to rescue his finances and relaunch a career appearing on other low brow cheesy TV shows.
This is in contrast to one of my Father's former colleagues, Dr Jeremy Bray, with whom he first got to know at boarding school in Bath and reacquainted through Christian Aid. A highly educated man in Science and Maths disciplines who like Stonehouse served in non Cabinet Ministerial posts in Wilson's first Govt and would have been a contemporary. The complete antithesis to Stonehouse being a man of decency and integrity, but who like him died relatively young.
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Post by tiptoes on Jan 4, 2023 12:59:44 GMT
In the 2nd episode, Wilson was shown smoking cigars which wasn't his trademark signature smoking accessory, which as everyone knows was a pipe.
And also his confidante was Betty Boothroyd the MP for West Bromwich and Asst Whip, not Marcia Falkender his private secretary and possible mistress, nor his PPS, so this doesn't make sense. Betty this, Betty that, who did the scriptwriters think they were type casting? Frank Spencer!?
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Post by gmdf on Jan 4, 2023 13:08:59 GMT
In the 2nd episode, Wilson was shown smoking cigars which wasn't his trademark signature smoking accessory, which as everyone knows was a pipe. Wilson smoked cigars in private, but a pipe in public to appear more of an ordinary, working chap. |
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Post by tiptoes on Jan 5, 2023 7:36:47 GMT
was thinking there would be nobody alive today from Wilson's circle of 1st Govt when Stonehouse a Minister on his journey of betrayal and corruption with the likes of Gerald Kaufman Parliamentary Press Officer for the Labour Party from 1965-70 and Cabinet Ministers, Tony Benn and Denis Healy all having departed fairly recently. Then I realised there was Roy Hattersley a junior Minister and Joe Haines, HWs Press Secretary, both still alive.
At least 3 other MPs in the 64-70 era but from different parties are David Steel, Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer, the latter no stranger to controversy having sailed close to the wind like Mr Stonehouse and been incarcerated, are all with us.
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Post by tiptoes on Jan 8, 2023 6:59:45 GMT
After the 3 episode series, the next evening they had a discussion to discuss the effects on those most closely impacted by Stonehouse's disappearance.
So with his kids and secretary whom he married still alive, the best they could conjure up was a great nephew who had written a book about him. Decent and articulate sort but wasn't telling us anything new.
With those involved politically, not many around, but I've mentioned Roy Hatt, Joe Haines and little David Steel, who as well as being an MP in 64-70 was the key player in organising the Lib-Lab pact, necessary because of Stonehouse's absence. Even Betty. But instead all they could wheel out was Robin Butler, the Tory bloke who won the Walsall by election after Stonehouse's resignation and Edwina Currie.
Yup, you've read that right. This opinionated, egocentric, adulterous woman who had as much relevance to the debate as Prince Harry to a Diplomatic Peace Convention was put forward to give us her views on the basis that when she was at Oxford University he came to give a speech.
So, all in all, an utter waste of time.
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