Liberals rally to Thorpe

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34106, 19 March 1976, Page 13

Liberals rally to Thorpe

1 CV Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright) \ LONDON, March 18. i The embattled British Liberal Party leader (Mr Jeremy Thorpe), who has been under strong pressure to resign, last night won his battle to remain at the head of the party—at least for the moment. A meeting of Liberal Parliamentarians, called to discuss the leadership crisis in Britain’s third largest party, decided that he should remain at their head until at least September, when the party’s leadership is due to come un for election.

Mr Thorpe's position had been called in doubt by both personal and political problems. He has come in for mounting criticism because of the Liberals’ poor showing in recent by-elections. The situation has been aggravated by allegations from a former male model, Mr Norman Scott, that he once had a homosexual relationship with the politician. Mr Thorpe has strongly denied 'this.

| It was a unanimous decision by Mr Thorpe’s 12 Liberal colleagues in the House of Commons and four peers that he should. Earlier this week, there were, indications that many of the Parliamentarians were unhappy with Mr Thorpe, and wanted to see the leadership election brought forward by several months. Their change of mood, apparently, stemmed from a report presented at the meeting which showed that Mr Thorpe still enjoyed massive support among rank-and-file Liberal supporters.

Linder the party’s new election process, due to be tried out for the first time in September, rank-and-file members will have a major say in deciding the leadership, rather than leaving this to the Parliamentarians. Thus if Mr Thorpe manages to keep his grass-roots backing, he should stand a very good chance of maintaining the leadership.

The Liberals have 12 members out of a total of 635 in the House of Commons.