John Profumo died last night at the age of 91, surrounded by his family, after suffering a stroke two days earlier. Profumo earned his place in history by bringing down the Macmillan government in 1963. He had been caught telling a lie to the House of Commons in a rather similar way to Clinton. In politer days he denied that “any impropriety” had occured between him and a “call girl” Christine Keeler. You may recall the film “Scandal” which was based on the story. The MacMillan governemt lost the following year’s general election as Labour mocked them with their previous slogan “Life’s Better Under the Conservatives”
It has to be said the original statement had been made after a long night when he had been working on ministerial affairs and was caught off guard. Nevertheless, his mistake cost him his job as a minister and led to his resignation from Parliament. (The situation was made worse by Keeler’s also having an affair with a Soviet military attache, although a later public inquiry deternimed there had been no security breech.) One indiscretion and a lie cost Profumo his position. How unlike our current Dear Leader who lied and lied and lied to go to war and still tries to justify it. He has even played the “devine guidance” card which had a great repost in PMQ’s this week when one Tory asked Blair which Archangel had advised him to go into southern Afghanistan. The witch-hunt and subsequent trial for living off immoral earnings of Stephen Ward led to Ward’s suicide. The Blair machine’s pursuit of David Kelly led to that whistleblower’s suicide but their war has caused over 100 British troop’s deaths and those of untold numbers of Iraqis.
Jack Profumo’s one mistake followed him for the rest of his life but he redeemed himself by the charity works he started immediately after his resignation. It is that which he should be remembered for. Blair’s place in history will forever be polluted by his association with the Bush neo-cons in their pursuit of war. Blair will deserve no honor, Jack Profumo should be buried with the dignity and affection he has earned in the last forty years of service to the poor and disadvantaged in the East End of London.
This obituary from the BBC gives a brief outline of his rise, fall and rehabilitation.
A charming and respected Tory politician who was educated at Harrow and Oxford, John Profumo was the rising star of Harold Macmillan’s Conservative government.
After entering the Commons in 1940 aged 25, becoming the youngest MP in the House, he was made Secretary of State for War in July 1960.
His brief affair with Ms Keeler began after he was introduced to her by fashionable London osteopath and artist Stephen Ward at Lord Astor’s Cliveden country estate in Berkshire in July 1961.
In an interview in 1989 she described the then minister as “a lot of fun”.
“But he was too old for me. I really just went out with him because I was impressed with who he was.”
In March 1963, Mr Profumo, who was married to the actress Valerie Hobson, made a statement to MPs denying any impropriety in his relationship with Ms Keeler.
He resigned in June 1963 after admitting he had misled the House of Commons.
The Profumo Affair was one of the most sensational political scandals of the 20th Century, which was later dramatised in a film starring Sir Ian McKellen as John Profumo.
Stephen Ward – infamous for his sex parties involving the rich and influential – was prosecuted for living on immoral earnings. He committed suicide on the last day of the trial before the jury reached its verdict.
Ms Keeler was found guilty on unrelated charges – for not attending as a witness in the trial of a man shot at her home – and sentenced to nine months in Holloway Prison.
John Profumo’s departure led to Harold Macmillan’s Conservative government losing the general election the following year.
Within days of his political departure, Mr Profumo turned up at the refuge centre Toynbee Hall and asked to help with the washing up.
He stayed for nearly 40 years, using his political skills to raise huge funds, and expanding the charity’s activities to include social programmes and youth training.
His wife also gave her time to helping others, working until her death in 1998 for the leprosy charity Lepra.
John Profumo was awarded the CBE in 1975.
In 1995 Margaret Thatcher, who called him “one of our national heroes”, invited him to her 70th birthday dinner, and seated him next to the Queen.
Lady Thatcher said then: “It’s time to forget the Keeler business. His has been a very good life.”
