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Summary

Political magazine series: This week: the ban on trade union membership at GCHQ; Stoke bus driver George Stevenson who has become an MEP; the dangers of boxing with Pat Cowdell; and tame journalists - do they exist?

Year:

1984

Duration:

0:24:40

Film type:

Colour / Sound

Company:

Central Television

Master format:

1 Inch Type C

Description

Programme presented by Tony Francis. The first film report from Rob Whitehouse looks at the Government ban on trade union membership at GCHQ in Cheltenham which has been in place for three months. There are 150 union members at the secret communications centre that have refused to be bought out of their membership and have taken their case to the High Court. We see aerial views of GCHQ and tracking shots from a car outside. Whitehouse interviews union members Nancy Dufton; Jeremy Windlust; Ann Downey; David Gallop; and Paul Holland with his wife Diana about their fight. We also see the offices of the Council of Civil Service Unions in Cheltenham.

Next on film Debi Davies profiles the Stoke on Trent bus driver George Stevenson who has been recently elected as the new Staffordshire East MEP. We see Stevenson driving his bus into the Hanley bus station and he is interviewed about his new political role. There are also vox pops with Stevenson's colleagues in the bus drivers’ canteen about his achievement.

Mark Astaire then reports about a campaign by the BMA to ban the sport of boxing due to the danger of serious head injuries. Astaire talks to West Midlands boxer Pat Cowdell about the risks of entering the ring. We see Cowdell sparring and winning a bout. We then see exterior views of the BMA offices in London. Astaire interviews Renee Short MP and Dr John Dawson who are both against the sport and Dr Adrian Whiteson who speaks for the British Board of Boxing Control in defence of boxing.

The final report looks at claims that the Government is supported by a number of 'tame' journalists who report what the Government tell them to and help to 'bury' bad news. In Whitehall Jon Lander talks to the Panorama journalist Michael Cockerill who is one of the authors of a new book 'Sources Close to the Prime Minister' who has made these claims. Lander also talks to Roy Hattersley MP and Lord Maude (the former Stratford MP Francis Maude) about the need for a Freedom of Information Act. We see views of the exterior of the House of Commons and Downing Street.


Credits

Production Team: Bruce Grocott; Rob Whitehouse; Debi Davies; Mark Astaire; Polly Rock
Film Editor: Mike Crolla
Graphics: Jim Chalmers; Phill Dunn
Political Editor: Reg Harcourt
Executive Producer: Terry Johnston
Editor: Mike Warman
Director: Rob Harding


Notes

Production number 4544/84.