John Lewis

John Lewis (14 December 1912 – 14 June 1969) was a British Labour Party politician, who played a major part in the controversial arrest of society osteopath Stephen Ward, landlord of Christine Keeler in the Profumo affair of 1963.

Career After making a fortune in industrial rubber, Lewis was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the two-seat constituency of Bolton at the 1945 general election, and became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Postmaster-General. The constituency was divided in a boundary review for the 1950 general election, when he was returned as MP for the new Bolton West constituency. At the 1951 general election he lost his seat

Role in Profumo scandal Lewis had borne a deep grudge against society osteopath Stephen Ward (Christine Keeler's landlord), ever since Ward had introduced one of Lewis's girlfriends to a lesbian contact, who lured her away from him. On Christmas Eve 1962, Keeler was feeling angry about some small issue with Ward, and visited a Baker Street nightclub, just for someone to talk to. By the purest chance, she met Lewis, and poured out the whole story of Profumo and the Soviet diplomat Ivanov. Lewis was overjoyed at this opportunity to get Ward named as a national security risk, and also twist the facts to make it look as though he was living off immoral earnings. In partnership with George Wigg, who had a score to settle with Profumo, Lewis made frequent allegations to the police about Ward's activities, until they arrested him. When Ward committed suicide in mid-trial, Lewis celebrated with champagne.