Profumo affair Party was marked by the scandal, which may have contributed to its defeat by the Labour Party in the 1964 general election. When the Profumo–Keeler affair was first revealed, public interest was heightened by reports that Keeler may have been simultaneously involved with Captain Yevgeny Ivanov, a Soviet naval attaché, thereby creating a possible security risk. Keeler knew both Profumo and Ivanov through her friendship with Stephen Ward, an osteopath and socialite who had taken her under his wing. The exposure of the affair generated rumours of other scandals, and drew official attention to the activities of Ward, who was
1962 South Dorset by-election Party vote was also important. Debenham lost his deposit gaining 12.3% of the votes against the 12.5% required. Angus Maude was subsequently elected to parliament in the Stratford by-election in 1963 after the resignation of John Profumo following the Profumo Affair. At the 1964 General Election Guy Barnett was defeated by the Conservative candidate Evelyn King by 935 votes. He later returned to parliament in 1971 following another by-election. Piers Debenham died in 1964 just before the 1964 General Election. 1962 South Dorset by-election The South Dorset by-election, 1962 occurred following the death of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich