This is technically accurate but misleading, because it was silent over the real nub of the matter. Readers are likely to be led to think that the BP chief had to go when he failed at hiding his sexual orientation from the public. This in turn calls up subliminally a host of unquestioned associations: that homosexuality is a moral failing, therefore such persons are unfit for high office, hence it should be hidden, failing which one has to quit.

Let me tell you the story in a nutshell. It's a tawdry story, but the tawdriness, as I will explain in Part 2, does not lie where you might at first think it does.

In January this year, the UK newspaper, the Mail on Sunday (MoS) -- well known for its sensationalist style -- was on the verge of publishing an exposé about Lord John Browne of Madingley, the CEO of BP, one of the world's leading oil companies. Browne had been CEO for 11 years and is highly respected for his leadership. Liz Hunt, writing for The Telegraph, said that through his career, Browne "showed the daring, vision, cunning and ruthlessness that had him lauded as the most brilliant businessman of his generation, the saviour of a floundering company on which 97,000 employees and numerous pension funds depended." [1]

John Browne

As soon as Browne knew of the MoS' plans, he sought and obtained a court injunction against publication on the ground that it violated his privacy. The MoS appealed the injunction, finally reaching the House of Lords, Britain's highest court. It's what happened at this appeal stage that precipitated Browne's resignation.

Although the MoS has not yet published its exposé as of the time of writing (3 May 2007), the outline of the story has emerged, centering on a 4-year relationship Browne had with 27-year-old Jeff Chevalier from Canada. The newspaper alleges that:

• Browne helped Chevalier set up a mobile phone ring tones business and senior BP executives were persuaded to act as directors in the lover's company;
   
• BP computers and support staff were used to run Chevalier's business. The CEO's personal assistant acted as the Canadian's secretary and a senior BP employee carried cash between the lovers;
   
• Browne paid for a university course in Britain so his partner could stay in the country on a student visa;
   
• The BP boss paid for renovations to his flat in Venice with cash and "dodged" a tax bill -- an allegation he vehemently denies;
   
• Browne also told the younger man details of conversations he had with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

Source [2]

The MoS said in a recent public statement: "The story we originally tried to publish was a business story involving issues of great importance to shareholders and employees of BP. Lord Browne chose to suppress this story by arguing to the High Court that, because the story was supplied to us by his former lover, Chevalier, it breached his right to private life under the Human Rights Act." [3]

Well, before we get too carried away with the MoS' attempt to do a high-minded public service, there are some aspects to consider:

BP, in a public statement, said that it had reviewed allegations of misuse of company assets but concluded they were "unfounded or insubstantive." [4]

Jeff Chevalier

Browne and Chevalier were, by all accounts except the MoS', in a steady relationship for 4 years from 2002 to 2006. That Browne was gay was an open secret among his friends. The couple went to social events together and were said to have been treated as a couple by their hosts. 

As for that and allegations of abuse of rank, Matthew Parris of The Times wrote, "Even were they true they would be small beer. There must be many respected CEOs who have sent a car on an errand for someone they loved, or asked a colleague to help out on something unconnected with the company. And what wife, husband or lover has never overheard their partner talking about business, or been told what he or she did at the office today?" [5]

Continuing, Parris wrote: "suggestions that Lord Browne may have described a dinner with the Prime Minister or a discussion with Peter Mandelson [6] strike me as pathetic attempts to attach a public interest tag to what is really just a juicy bit of tittle-tattle [by MoS]."

"The 'public interest' aspect of these stories looks slim to the point of desperation: a fig-leaf to cover more prurient motives for relating a gossipy human story." [7]

A dispassionate look at the details paints Browne as a kind and generous man. There is no suggestion of any infidelity. Quite the opposite: he tried to set his lover up in business, so that the young man would have some independent means. It would also have been good for Chevalier's self-esteem not to be treated entirely as a kept boy -- and the number of heterosexual male executives doing likewise to help their kept women must be legion (and they don't seem to interest scandal sheets).

As for senior BP executives being directors of the ringtones company, surely senior corporate executives knew what they are doing and must have willingly consented. It's also another indication that the Browne-Chevalier relationship was no closely-guarded secret.

And what's so scandalous about helping a partner stay in the country, paying for his education?

Finally, when the relationship ended, Browne gave Chevalier money, paying for an apartment in Toronto. [8]

Chevalier evidently didn't think that was enough. He contacted the Mail on Sunday. And that's how it started. I have to admit that I don't know for a fact whether what I think was his motive was truly the case, but please, are any of us born yesterday?

* * * * *

 
If that's the background, how did it rebound so badly on Browne? What exactly happened at the appeal stage that brought this on?

Browne's downfall could be traced to his foolishness when trying to convince the high court to affirm the prohibition against MoS publishing the story. He lied to the court about how he had first met Chevalier, and tried to impugn the younger man's character by making unfounded allegations about his substance abuse.

Browne told the court that contrary to the MoS' story, he had met Chevalier while exercising at Battersea Park. He also claimed that Chevalier was "a liar, unstable and adversely affected by dependence on alcohol and illegal drugs". For two weeks, Browne insisted his allegations were true, but eventually, evidence including medical records emerged showing that they were not. [9]

That made the judge cross. Justice David Eady said of Browne's lying under oath, "I am not prepared to make allowances for a 'white lie' told to the court in circumstances such as these -- especially by a man who prays in aid his reputation and distinction and refers to the various honours he has received under the present government when asking the court to prefer his account. It may be that it should be addressed as contempt or as some other form of criminal offence." [10]

It was this public scolding that brought him down. For lying to a court. Not for being gay; not for having a lover.

* * * * *

 
So far, I've only dealt with the narrative. Part 2 will discuss some implications of this tale.

But before we go, some readers would want to know -- how did Browne first meet Chevalier, if not at Battersea Park? It's not altogether clear (yet), but The Telegraph said it was through a gay escort agency. [11]

If so, here again, Browne comes across as a well-meaning man, trying to help someone he loved get out of the "business". Yet, like so many Greek tragedies, it was the nature of the man himself that was his undoing. When faced with a challenge to his privacy by an ex-lover and newspaper, his hard-driving, risk-taking nature that had served him so well in business, took the better of him. Browne went on the offensive to demolish his opponent, to the extent of fabricating lies before a court of law. 

Go to Part 2. 

© Yawning Bread 

1. The Telegraph, 3 May 2007, Why I don't feel sorry for Browne -- by Liz Hunt
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2. The Evening Standard, 1 May 2007, Hubris, lies and the gay affair that brought down BP boss 
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3. Online Press Gazette, 2 May 2007, Mail on Sunday still wants untold Browne story to be made public -- by Dominic Ponsford 
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4. The Evening Standard, 1 May 2007, Hubris, lies and the gay affair that brought down BP boss 
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5. The Times (UK), 2 May 2007, There is no public interest in this juicy bit of tittle-tattle; Lord Browne paid the price for the City’s awkwardness about gays – by Matthew Parris 
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6. Peter Mandelson was formerly a minister in the Tony Blair cabinet, and is currently the EU Trade Commissioner. He is openly gay. 
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7. The Times (UK), 2 May 2007, There is no public interest in this juicy bit of tittle-tattle; Lord Browne paid the price for the City’s awkwardness about gays -- by Matthew Parris 
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8. Ibid. 
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9. The Evening Standard, 1 May 2007, Hubris, lies and the gay affair that brought down BP boss 
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10. Ibid 
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11. The Telegraph, 3 May 2007, Why I don't feel sorry for Browne -- by Liz Hunt
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