The British Conservative Party has a long history of political scandals. From financial impropriety to affairs and coverups, the party has weathered numerous controversies over the years. Here are 15 of the most notable scandals:
1. The Profumo Affair (1963) – A sex scandal involving Secretary of State for War John Profumo and model Christine Keeler.
2. The Westland Affair (1986) – Allegations that then-Defense Secretary Michael Heseltine tried to push through a deal that would benefit his constituency.
3. The Cash-for-Questions Scandal (1994) – MPs were accused of accepting money in exchange for asking questions in Parliament.
4. The Ecclestone Affair (1997) – Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone donated £1m to Labour before they agreed to exempt F1 from tobacco advertising regulations.
5. David Mellor’s Extramarital Affairs (1992) – Minister David Mellor was caught having an affair with actress Antonia de Sancha while he was married.
6. Jeffrey Archer Perjury Trial (2001) – Author and politician Jeffrey Archer was convicted of perjury after lying under oath during a libel trial against a newspaper.
7. Liam Fox Lobbying Scandal (2011) – Defense Secretary Liam Fox resigned following allegations that he allowed his friend Adam Werritty access to sensitive government meetings without security clearance.
8. MP Expenses Scandal (2009) – MPs were found claiming expenses for everything from moat cleaning to pornographic films, leading to widespread public outrage.
9. Priti Patel Resignation (2017) – International Development Secretary Priti Patel resigned after unauthorized meetings with Israeli officials came into light
10. Boris Johnson’s affair with Petronella Wyatt(2004)- Boris Johnson denied having an extra-marital affair when he was editor at Spectator; however, it was later revealed that he had an affair with Petronella Wyatt.
11. David Cameron’s lobbying scandal(2021)- Former Prime Minister David Cameron was found guilty of attempting to use his contacts in the government for personal gain.
12. Dominic Cummings’ lockdown breach (2020)- Senior adviser Dominic Cummings breached lockdown rules when he went to visit family members in Durham during a national lockdown.
13. Boris Johnson’s flat renovation scandal(2021)- An investigation is ongoing into whether or not the Prime Minister received an illegal donation from a Tory donor for renovations at Downing Street.
14. Matt Hancock Affair Scandal (2021) – Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigned after pictures emerged of him kissing and embracing his aide Gina Coladangelo, violating COVID-19 social distancing guidelines
15. Owen Paterson lobbying scandal (2021) – MP Owen Paterson violated parliamentary standards by accepting payments for advocating on behalf of companies without disclosing them and access to ministers.
Despite these scandals, the Conservative Party has remained one of Britain’s major political forces, winning numerous elections over the years. However, these controversies continue to raise questions about transparency and accountability within the party and British politics as a whole.