The life of a fascist leader

Born in 1896, Mosley was a wealthy 6th baronet and became a Tory MP in 1918, then an independent in 1922. Later stood for Labour and lost, but in 1924 returned for Labour.

He was Ramsay MacDonald's chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1929 before veering into fascism.

The King and queen attended his first wedding to the daughter of Lord Curzon, a former Tory Foreign Secretary. She died in 1932.

In March 1931, Mosley left Labour to found the New Party. All candidates defeated at election.

In October 1932 he formed the British Union of Fascists. Accepted money (pounds 20,000 in brown paper envelopes) from Mussolini although Mosley later denied this vigorously.

After his second marriage in Berlin 1936 to Diana, one of the Mitford sisters, he had tea with Hitler and Frau Goebbels.

In 1940 Sir Oswald and Lady Mosley were imprisoned for pro-Hitler views for three and a half years.

After he was released, Mosley retired to become a gentleman farmer, buying an estate with money he claimed that he made on the stock exchange when in prison.

Refused a passport but bought a yacht and sailed to Spain. Settled in Paris with Diana and died in 1980 aged 84.

Mosley's two sons by Lady Curzon have found their own success. Max is chief lieutenant of Bernie Eccleston, the Formula One tycoon. Nicholas is a novelist and biographer.