The Fascinating Tale of John Stonehouse: The MP who faked his own death and fled to Australia
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Faking your death and deserting family to start a new life in Australia. It’s a plot that seems far too complicated to be real - and yet, the true story of British MP John Stonehouse is one of the most intriguing tales to come out of the 70s.
With the elaborate plot taking on the shape of a blockbuster movie, the unique story of Stonehouse has attracted numerous film and TV producers to create a show to detail his fascinating tale.
In fact, ITV has recently announced that it will be releasing a three-part drama, which tells the story of the life and disappearance of the Labour politician and Harold Wilson's cabinet member.
However, his great-nephew Julian Hayes, who authored the biography of his great-uncle Stonehouse: Cabinet Minister, Fraudster, Spy, believes that the version that is making the rounds this week is filled with inaccuracies.
Sharing that his childhood was 'haunted' by his late great-uncle, Hayes recounts how Stonehouse’s disappearance in 1974 left an impact on the family, explaining that little of the dramatised show’s plot is factual.
'If you’d written the Stonehouse story as fiction, it would be completely unbelievable. There’s no way on Earth that anybody would swallow it as a plot line. It’s a classic case of truth being stranger than fiction.'
'It says it’s based on a true story, and that’s really as far as it goes. Most of the peripheral characters are made up, and very little is factually correct,' he said.
Hayes met with the producers for a consultation and expressed his ‘certain views’ about the drama.
'I don’t think it’s been changed dramatically, I saw a preview of the first episode of the three-part drama.'
The story of Stonehouse
The general public knew Stonehouse as the Labour MP for Wednesbury and Walsall North. However, Stonehouse’s career took a hit in 1969, when he was accused as an agent of the Czech secret service, which led him into financial troubles.
Aside from this, the scandal from his affair with his secretary, Sheila Buckley, tainted his reputation as he was married with three kids at the time.
Desperate to make a new start, Stonehouse stole the identities of two deceased men in his constituency to create fake passports and set off for Miami. He left a pile of clothes on the beach for everyone to believe he had drowned - a classic romantic tragedy on the cards.
Five weeks later, however, he was arrested in Australia where he was discovered to be reunited with his lover.
It was also revealed that Stonehouse had transferred funds from his companies and had been gradually trained by the Czech secret agency.
Hayes said: 'The drama portrays a honeytrap, but in fact, they psychologically groomed him over a period of time. There was no sex involved.'
'A Czech agent befriended him and worked on him over lunches and dinners. If they’d said, "John, we’d like you to spy for us," he’d have said no.'
'But a slow insidious step-by-step persuasion to cooperate worked. He was not a spy in the sense of James Bond or the novels of John Le Carré.'
'But he provided the Czechs with information and got a lot of money from them. He knew what he was doing.'
During his research during the writing of his great-uncle's biography, Hayes claimed that he combed through detailed records in Czech archives which support his claims.
'That’s why I’m quite certain that a honeytrap was never on the agenda,' he remarked.
'They massaged his ego and gained his trust.'
Did he live a double life?
His daughter, Julia, has a different opinion on why her father took such drastic action.
In her own biography, John Stonehouse, My Father, published in 2021, she dismissed the spy claims and argued that her father’s behaviour was due to depression, breakdown and the use of prescription drugs.
However, Hayes counter-argued these claims, saying: 'I fully understand and sympathise with why she’s made that case. But it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny – and it certainly wasn’t believed by the jury in his trial.'
Hayes was nine years old when Stonehouse committed the fraudulent stunt. His father, who was also Stonehouse's business partner and nephew, ultimately testified against him in court.
'Stonehouse’s actions were the result of meticulous planning of the most premeditated nature – fake identities, false bank accounts and credit cards, taking money out of his businesses,' Hayes added.
'He knew that his wife and children would believe he was dead. It was utterly callous and heartless.'
On the world stage
Stonehouse’s story made an impact on an international level, with his name often included in articles discussing other espionage stories.
The ITV drama is written by esteemed journalist John Preston, whose credits include A Very English Scandal, which became a TV drama starring Hugh Grant, and The Dig which was made into a 2021 film starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan.
'Based on years of extensive research, the writer John Preston dramatised the aspects that interested him most and has created a rich, colourful and poignant account of an unforgettable politician,' ITV remarked.
So what do you think, members? Is the TV show altering the facts of the case a little too much, or do you think this just adds to the interesting ‘myth’ surrounding the politician?
Better yet, do you have any recollections about this scandalous news? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
With the elaborate plot taking on the shape of a blockbuster movie, the unique story of Stonehouse has attracted numerous film and TV producers to create a show to detail his fascinating tale.
In fact, ITV has recently announced that it will be releasing a three-part drama, which tells the story of the life and disappearance of the Labour politician and Harold Wilson's cabinet member.
However, his great-nephew Julian Hayes, who authored the biography of his great-uncle Stonehouse: Cabinet Minister, Fraudster, Spy, believes that the version that is making the rounds this week is filled with inaccuracies.
Sharing that his childhood was 'haunted' by his late great-uncle, Hayes recounts how Stonehouse’s disappearance in 1974 left an impact on the family, explaining that little of the dramatised show’s plot is factual.
Former British MP John Stonehouse's life story has intrigued many people for decades. But what exactly happened when he faked his death to flee to Australia? Credit: Bill Howard/ANL/Shutterstock.
'If you’d written the Stonehouse story as fiction, it would be completely unbelievable. There’s no way on Earth that anybody would swallow it as a plot line. It’s a classic case of truth being stranger than fiction.'
'It says it’s based on a true story, and that’s really as far as it goes. Most of the peripheral characters are made up, and very little is factually correct,' he said.
Hayes met with the producers for a consultation and expressed his ‘certain views’ about the drama.
'I don’t think it’s been changed dramatically, I saw a preview of the first episode of the three-part drama.'
The story of Stonehouse
The general public knew Stonehouse as the Labour MP for Wednesbury and Walsall North. However, Stonehouse’s career took a hit in 1969, when he was accused as an agent of the Czech secret service, which led him into financial troubles.
Aside from this, the scandal from his affair with his secretary, Sheila Buckley, tainted his reputation as he was married with three kids at the time.
The ITV drama will feature real-life couple Keeley Hawes and Matthew Macfadyen as Barbara and John Stonehouse, with Emer Heatley playing John’s lover, Sheila Buckley. Credit: ITV.
Desperate to make a new start, Stonehouse stole the identities of two deceased men in his constituency to create fake passports and set off for Miami. He left a pile of clothes on the beach for everyone to believe he had drowned - a classic romantic tragedy on the cards.
Five weeks later, however, he was arrested in Australia where he was discovered to be reunited with his lover.
It was also revealed that Stonehouse had transferred funds from his companies and had been gradually trained by the Czech secret agency.
Hayes said: 'The drama portrays a honeytrap, but in fact, they psychologically groomed him over a period of time. There was no sex involved.'
'A Czech agent befriended him and worked on him over lunches and dinners. If they’d said, "John, we’d like you to spy for us," he’d have said no.'
'But a slow insidious step-by-step persuasion to cooperate worked. He was not a spy in the sense of James Bond or the novels of John Le Carré.'
'But he provided the Czechs with information and got a lot of money from them. He knew what he was doing.'
During his research during the writing of his great-uncle's biography, Hayes claimed that he combed through detailed records in Czech archives which support his claims.
'That’s why I’m quite certain that a honeytrap was never on the agenda,' he remarked.
'They massaged his ego and gained his trust.'
Did he live a double life?
His daughter, Julia, has a different opinion on why her father took such drastic action.
In her own biography, John Stonehouse, My Father, published in 2021, she dismissed the spy claims and argued that her father’s behaviour was due to depression, breakdown and the use of prescription drugs.
However, Hayes counter-argued these claims, saying: 'I fully understand and sympathise with why she’s made that case. But it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny – and it certainly wasn’t believed by the jury in his trial.'
Hayes was nine years old when Stonehouse committed the fraudulent stunt. His father, who was also Stonehouse's business partner and nephew, ultimately testified against him in court.
'Stonehouse’s actions were the result of meticulous planning of the most premeditated nature – fake identities, false bank accounts and credit cards, taking money out of his businesses,' Hayes added.
'He knew that his wife and children would believe he was dead. It was utterly callous and heartless.'
On the world stage
Stonehouse’s story made an impact on an international level, with his name often included in articles discussing other espionage stories.
The ITV drama is written by esteemed journalist John Preston, whose credits include A Very English Scandal, which became a TV drama starring Hugh Grant, and The Dig which was made into a 2021 film starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan.
'Based on years of extensive research, the writer John Preston dramatised the aspects that interested him most and has created a rich, colourful and poignant account of an unforgettable politician,' ITV remarked.
So what do you think, members? Is the TV show altering the facts of the case a little too much, or do you think this just adds to the interesting ‘myth’ surrounding the politician?
Better yet, do you have any recollections about this scandalous news? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
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