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Stratford upon Avon By-election

What effect will the political bombshell of the Profumo scandal have on the voters of Stratford upon Avon?

News 1963 3 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

In 1963, the Conservative MP and Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, was forced to resign over a scandal involving vice, official secrets and lying to the House of Commons. The resulting by-election in his old Stratford upon Avon seat attracted the media in droves, with the press relishing the salacious intrigue. However, in this Midland Montage item Reg Harcourt finds an electorate that doesn't seem that bothered by it all.

Angus Maude was the victor in the by-election for the Conservatives and held the seat until 1983. The 1963 Stratford by-election also saw the first political sighting of Screaming Lord Sutch who stood under a banner of the National Teenage Party.