UK: Police probe cover-up over assassination attempt on Jeremy Thorpe's gay lover

Former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe is led away by police in 1977

Police have begun an inquiry into claims that a confession implicating Jeremy Thorpe in a plot to murder his former lover was destroyed in a Whitehall cover-up.

Dennis Meighan, now 69, told police in a statement in 1975 that he was hired to assassinate Norman Scott, who at the time was threatening to expose his relationship with the Liberal leader.

After being approached by ‘a representative of Thorpe’, Meighan says he agreed to carry out the murder.

But he changed his mind and gave detectives details of the conspiracy, which he says were ignored. Instead, a false statement exonerating both himself and the politician was apparently given to him to sign.

Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Gwent Police’s Major Incident Team has been asked to investigate Meighan’s claim that he was silenced.

If his story is found to be true, detectives will focus on who in Whitehall had authority to sanction the statement swap and whether the security services were involved.  (more...)

UK: Police probe cover-up over assassination attempt on Jeremy Thorpe's gay lover

Background:

New twist in Jeremy Thorpe murder plot scandal as police open fresh inquiry

Cover-up: Jeremy Thorpe Scandal a Lucky Break for Cyril Smith

Was Jeremy Thorpe Part of a Cyril Smith Coverup?