8 Historical Scandals Which NEED To Be Made Into Films

Prior to the 1924 General Election, the Daily Mail published a fake letter which alleged connections between the UK Labour Party and Russian communists. The letter, which was seemingly an order from Grigory Zinoviev, an influential Russian politician and Old Bolshevik, addressed to the British Communist Party.

The letter noted that, if Labour were to win the General Election, the party would attempt to re-establish diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia. Consequently, the British working class would be radicalised and the country may face a proletariat uprising similar to the Russian Revolution.

The Daily Mail, the infamous Conservative newspaper, published the letter in the days leading up to the election, hoping to dampen the chances of a Labour victory. Indeed, the plan worked: many voters became highly sceptical and critical of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and the Labour Party.

Ultimately, the Conservatives won the election by a landslide and MacDonald's party were sorely embarrassed. While, at the time, the letter was ostensibly confirmed as genuine by some, this scandalous document has since been derided as a forgery.

A film which charts the letter's (alleged) origins, publication, and impacts would be undoubtedly fascinating, providing insights into 1920s British politics and journalism.