Not long after the Jimmy Savile affair broke, and the BBC’s Newsnight programme found itself in hot
water, with its editor temporarily standing down while an investigation
proceeded, the show is back in the news, and over an edition that is yet to be
broadcast. This follows the allegations by Labour MP Tom Watson that a former
senior aide to a former Prime Minister was a paedophile.
Following the Watson allegations, there was speculation that
this person was Peter Morrison, former Parliamentary Private Secretary to
Margaret Thatcher, who represented Chester and was known for his propensity to
cruise the Sussex Gardens area of an evening. But it now appears that the name
in the frame is still alive, and Morrison is long dead.
Moreover, one other Thatcher PPS, Ian Gow, is also long
dead, having been murdered by the IRA. So the meaning of the phrase “senior aide” has been thought not to mean
a PPS, and this has led to one name being put forward, this identifying a
current MP and household name. It’s possible that this assumption is correct,
but then again, it may not be, and there are other possibilities.
The period suggested by the Watson allegations is the early
1990s, which would mean the “senior aide”
was a Tory, and the PM, if not Thatcher, would have been “Shagger” Major. And the name being bandied about following the
revelation by Iain Overton, editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism,
has not been a “senior aide”, although
there are other names that come to mind.
Major had two PPSs during his premiership, although both are
married. Thatcher has at least two that are still alive, one of whom is not
married, although he is still politically active. In what role that activity
takes place, and in what place it occurs, are easily searchable and I will
leave it to others to do the Googling and bring up the name. That person’s CV
suggests he is not short of a few quid.
And Michael Crick has been in touch with the person who may
be named by Newsnight, to find that
he is prepared to issue proceedings against all concerned, and to be able to do
so without first stopping and doing one’s sums also suggests someone not
exactly on their uppers. So I would advise caution in rushing to follow the
herd here: let’s wait and see.
Because this could be
a most Educating revelation.
3 comments:
"...both are married. Thatcher has at least two that are still alive, one of whom is not married..."
And pointing out their marital status, or lack thereof, is important/significant because?
Because you've latched on to it. Before rushing to judgement have a look at this previous post:
http://zelo.tv/Va3xw6
And thanks for looking in ;-)
A very brief bit of googling lead me to the name of someone who was in the Lords rather than the Commons. His seniority was very much behind the scenes and almost entirely personal to Thatcher, and he certainly fits the "shadowy figure of high public standing" description given during Waterhouse (as quoted by Newsnight). There seems to be a mountain of allegations, I'm not sure they're concrete though.
Post a Comment