PROFUMO QUITS & SAYS: I LIED
June 6, 1963
MR John Profumo, the War Minister, resigned suddenly last night, his public career wrecked by open scandal.
in a letter to the Prime Minister, containing an admission totally without precedent in British political history, Mr Profumo said he had lied to the house of commons, to his ministerial colleagues, and to Mr Macmillan personally.
The reason for his downfall and disgrace: his association with 21year-old Miss christine Keeler, the subject of weeks of rumour among MPs and in London’s social life.
a letter, dated Tuesday and sent by 48-year-old Mr Profumo to the Prime Minister said: ‘dear Prime Minister: You will recollect that on March 22, following certain allegations made in Parliament, i made a personal statement.
‘at that time a rumour had charged me with assisting in the disappearance of a witness and with being involved in some possible breach of security.
‘So serious were these charges that i allowed myself to think that my personal association with that witness, which had also been the subject of rumour, was by comparison of minor importance only.
‘in my statement i said that there had been no impropriety in this association. To my very deep regret i have to admit that this was not true and that i misled you and my colleagues and the house. i ask you to understand that i did this to protect, as i thought, my wife and family.
‘i have come to realise that, by this deception, i have been guilty of a grave misdemeanour, and despite the fact that there is no truth whatever in the other charges, i cannot remain a member of your administration, nor of the house of commons.
‘i cannot tell you of my deep remorse for the embarrassment i have caused to you, to my colleagues in the Government, to my constituents, and to the party which i have served for the past 25 years. Yours sincerely – Jack Profumo’
The MP left his London home yesterday for a secret destination in the country. he drove off in his Jaguar. his wife Valerie hobson and family went with him.
Miss Keeler was at a chelsea flat last night.