[ritchiebaby]

Dr Beeching wrote the report as a civil servant instructed by the Tory Government to identify loss-making railways, which he did. He was the fall guy.

Ernest Marples, on the other hand, was seen as a slimy little chancer - involved with prostitutes on the fringes of the Profumo Affair, dubious share dealings, owing the taxman tens of thousands of pounds, fled the country taking his money with him - you name it, he was probably involved (allegedly!).