Chairman ‘roasted’

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 6

Chairman ‘roasted’

NZPA London An unrepentant 8.8. C. chairman, Mr George Howard, yesterday met the full fury of Tory members of Parliament who have accused the corporation of biased reporting of the Falklands crisis. Mr Howard faced a call for his resignation from Winston Churchill but insisted he had "nothing to apologise for” over Monday night’s controversial “Panorama” programme. Tory members left a packed meeting of the backbench Media Committee furious, dismayed, and disappointed at the performance of Mr Howard and the director general-designate, Alisdair Milne. One senior Conservative said: “It was the roughest meeting I have attended in all my years as an M.P.” The meeting was called at short notice to allow members of Parliament to vent their anger against what they claim has been biased 8.8. C. reporting and to let the 8.8. C. chiefs reply to the charges. It came the day after severe criticism of the 8.8. C. had been voiced in the Com ; mons by Conservatives.

In the event, there'were no holds barred. Members’ description of the confrontation with Mr Howard were lurid. "He was absolutely crucified.” said one. "He was roasted alive,” said another. "There were blood and entrails all over the place.”

As members of Parliament left the meeting, it was clear that the 8.8. C. chairman had failed to satisfy his critics in any way.