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Two ministers in Ted Heath’s government who featured in sex and drugs scandals. If only they had known what Ted was alleged to be up to. This was exposed by the News of the World when it specialised in this kind of thing. These two have been lumped together because the stories emerged at just about the same time. It had everything, Lords who were Ministers, Prostitutes, dodgy pictures and of course the left leaning press went to town on it.
Anthony Lambton was not actually a Lord, he had disclaimed his title as the 6th Earl of Durham in 1970 in order to remain Tory MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed. Despite renouncing his title he insisted people refer to him by his former courtesy title, Viscount Lambton or Lord Lambton. This was frowned upon by the Garter Principal King of Arms no less. I expect the Sussexes to revert to something similar when William strips away the Dukedom.
In 1970 he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence and kept an eye on the RAF. In 1973 the News of the World revealed he had been frequenting prostitutes. This is where the infamous Norma Levy makes her entrance. Her husband had hidden in a cupboard and taken photos of the action so to speak. He then tried to sell these pictures to the Fleet Street tabloids. Lambton resigned his seat in May and in the subsequent by election, Alan Beith won the seat for the Liberals. Rather ironic because the Liberals have plenty of form for sexual shenanigans themselves, even more so than the Tories if you ask me.
Shortly after this the name Jellicoe popped up in connection with one of Norma Levy’s girls. The Jellicoe in question was actually Jellicoe House but there was some confusion and eventually Earl Jellicoe, the Lord Privy Seal and the Leader of the House of Lords then admitted casual affairs with prostitutes from a Mayfair escort Agency but denied all knowledge of Norma Levy.
A day after Lambton stepped down, so did Jellicoe who then went back to a life in business. I see this as a typical Tory style scandal. All to do with sex rather than money along with lurid details of at least one of the Lords indulging in exotic cheroots.
© well_chuffed 2026
