The British MP who faked his death and ran away to Australia

February 1, 2023 4:32 AM

Philanderer? Fraudster? Spy? The British MP who faked his death and ran away to Australia. He was a British MP who faked his own death to start a new life in Melbourne. But what's the truth about the elusive, alleged spy John Stonehouse?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (7 comments total)

Surprised I never heard of him, wow.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:43 AM on February 1, 2023

George Santos strikes again!!
posted by Fizz at 5:51 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

I suppose it's progress, that a serial liar determined to be prime minister no longer needs to fake his death and flee to Australia, before deserting his wife and children and starting a new life with a mistress 20 years his junior.
posted by automatronic at 6:07 AM on February 1, 2023 [19 favorites]

I watched the three-episode series on Britbox and it was pretty hilarious, then had an abrupt tonal shift. He seems to have been the Anthony Weiner of his day, tripping over himself into major trouble for his party.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:15 AM on February 1, 2023

The band I Like Trains, earlyish in their career, wrote a song about Stonehouse (YT). The whole album is great, and each song is about some historical event. It’s how I learned about the assassination of Spencer Perceval!
posted by sigma7 at 7:07 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

Movie coming soon.
posted by dobbs at 9:24 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

When I saw the ads for the movie, I immediately thought of the Citation Needed episode.
(It's amazing how much information I now relate to Tom Scott projects, given that I had no idea who he was four years ago....)
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 1:58 PM on February 1, 2023 [2 favorites]