Tom Scott accredited

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 1

Tom Scott accredited

PA . Wellington •• Tom i Scott, the political correspondent for the "Listener,” will be accredited <5 to the Commonwealth Asian and Pacific^heads of Government meeting in New Delhi next week. A press spokesman for., the Indian Government said no letter had been received from the New Zea-, land: Government asking that Mr Scott not be accredited to report the four-day meeting. But the spokesman said the Indian.. Government knew of the attitude of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) towardsMr Scott’s accreditation from press reports it-had received.

Mr Muldoon said two weeks ago that he had re-, fused a request from the editor of the “Listener” to approve Mr Scott to accompany him on his visit to India and China, and he would tell the Commonwealth Secretariat it should r not accredit Mr Scott to the New Delhi Commonwealth meeting. Mr Scott said last evening: “I can only say I’m appalled at their decision —• flying in the face of our Prime Minister doesn’t show much respect for him.” However, Mr Scott said he always expected the...lndian Government to accredit him to cover the meeting. •?

> “I’m pleased, but I ■ never thought they could have done anything else. • No responsible Government could have refused my request.” Mr Scott said he did not envisage any problems with Mr Muldoon on the trip. . • ‘ ' “He’ll be travelling first-class and I’m going economy class, so we will i be at other ends of the plane. “When we get there he’ll be whisked away in a big limousine and I’ll probably have to hitch into town, so I won’t see much of him.” Mr Scott will not accompany Mr Muldoon to f' China. ‘ '