I don't see how "my freedom was removed by force" by initially replacing the offshore radio stations by the addition of BBC Radio One. You still had freedom of speech and there were no restrictions on books, magazines, newspapers etc apart from what was illegal to say or publish at the time. Nor is passing a bill through a democratically elected Parliament an act of force.
Article 10 of the Human Rights Act on Freedom of Expression.
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This Article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
The second sentence has always been the case. Number 2 covers the restrictions on freedom of speech governments may introduce.
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/human-rights-act/article-10-freedom-expression
As posted before Edward Short introduced the Marine Offences Bill. Tony Benn, as well as the Labour Party Broadcast Committee, were in favour of breaking the BBC monopoly by introducing a national pop music service and local radio, which could relay it at times, run as public corporations and largely or fully financed by advertising revenue. Public corporations can, and have been, privatised by Conservative Governments.
There was nothing in the 1966 Queens Speech about action again offshore radio. Conservative spokesman Quinton Hogg in the debate on it said there should be, the Government should drop some of their other measures and introduce it and those measures would have the Conservatives full support. That was said again by the Conservatives after the Calvert shooting. During the debate on the MOA the Conservative spokesman said they didn't want to mislead the pubic and they were not voting against the bill but in favour of a different alternative to the offshore radio stations. Independent Local Radio was not what many in the Conservative Party were in favour of.
The Musicians Union, Broadcasting Unions, newspaper publishers were all against commercial radio at the time though as always their official view may not have been shared by all their members.
Yes, I was only 17 then - now I'm 75 (& feeling it !) I think I was just so pleased when I woke up the next morning, Caroline was still blasting away _ & sad to find 266 & all the others had gone.
MY Loathing of Wilson, Benn & all was complete.
As a teenager, I felt a big chunk of my freedom had been removed by force.
Since then, I've done my best to create radio free from Government control, & support those that did the same, be they at sea or on land.
I suppose my biggest effort, was creating Caroline shortwave. Fighting health problems & cynicism, from some, but great support from others.
I vowed to keep it going, until the Ross revenge arrived in the north sea, & I did.
Thankfully, I was able in 1984 to face up to & cure my major health problem.
Caroline's next struggle for existence, came after 1990 - but thanks to satellite radio & eventually when the internet arrived properly, & a lot of dedication & hard work from Peter Moore, John Lewis, Nigel, Dave Foster, & Johnnie Reece & many others, Caroline was re-born in a more legal way - & is still there now. Legal & pretty free - now from big business pressures & BBC control.
Long may she live - & those who make it happen
57 years ago - hard to believe it was so long ago!
Memorable anniversary today -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine,_%26c.,_Broadcasting_ (Offences)_Act_1967
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