Free Radio Forum: Re: Alternative facts

Yes course later they came under a great deal of pressure to act mainly due the Radio City events, and the allegations that gangster money was being put into pirate radio, particularly from South London gangs. Not named but presumably the Richardsons. Also constant interventions by the BBC who argued against Benns plans for a commercial station.

The last entry from Benn about pirate radio comes in December 1966 "One other event perhaps worth commenting on was that Radio Caroline, the pirate radio station, hired a very beautiful woman to come to the ITN party and to head for Sergeant Kelly, the PM's bodyguard. This publicity stunt created something of a stir"

Previous Message

Thanks Mark. A key comment by Benn on Wilson is “He indicated that I shouldn't prosecute at this stage”. This looks like being a continuation of possible policy since September 1964. The Radio City incident in June 1966 changed that.

Benn states “I heard Radio 390 which was broadcasting a recorded appeal by the managing director”. That managing director was Ted Allbeury.

Ted Allbeury said this about Benn: “When Weggie Benn was postmaster general, he was absolutely civilised, made nonsense about it all, and said ‘no, of course, these people aren't criminal, they're not pirates, they’re just ordinary businessmen who found a loophole in the law which eventually we shall close’ which I (Allbeury) found sane and perfectly all right”. (Interview in Offshore Echos No 26 December 1978).

Note the use of "eventually" and, from the diaries, that Benn and Wilson were Radio 390 listeners, at least on this occasion.

Previous Message

They were clearly rattled, they knew the electoral effects of closing the pirates, to Benn's credit he did realise the importance of an alternative, but of course his plans were thwarted.

Here are two entries from his 1963-67 diaries

December 1964

"To the Office by 10.30. I summoned Mr. Lillicrap, the director of Radio Services, and told him to get cracking on a number of alternative schemes for providing a nationwide pop music service financed by advertising which would be a revenue raiser for the Post Office and help to meet the BBC deficit. This could be achieved by splitting the BBC Light Programme VHF transmitters off. There would be a terrible squeal from some people but since pop music and advertisers both seek mass audiences there would be no conflict of interest and the Post Office would pocket the cash."

December 1965

"After lunch at home I heard Radio 390 which was broadcasting a recorded appeal by the managing director for people to write to me in a protest against my decision to prosecute the pirates. The telephone rang shortly afterwards and it was Harold Wilson who had been listening to the same programme and he was extremely worried. I told him we were making progress on the broadcasting White Paper with its proposals for advertising on the Light Programme and the establishment of municipally owned local radio stations which might even help to make a profit to reduce rates. He was clearly relieved. He indicated that I shouldn't prosecute at this stage."

Previous Message

In 2017 Kellyanne Conway coined the phrase “alternative facts”.

But, in discussing government action during the 1960s offshore pirate era, there are two key actual facts of vital importance.

1: Despite the Territorial Waters Order in Council 1964, [now replaced by Territorial Sea (Baselines) Order 2014], which also confirmed wireless telegraphy legislative powers to the sea forts from September 1964, this was not tested in law by taking action against the fort radio stations until after the Radio City incident, which started on 20 June 1966. The first GPO summonses were in September 1966, after 2 years of inaction.

2: At the time of the Queen’s speech on 21 April 1966, there were 9 offshore radio stations broadcasting (including on/off Tower) with two known to be on the way (Britain Radio and SRE), soon bringing the total to 11, but there was still no announcement of legislation.

Now this is my take: This does not suggest the government, or a postmaster general (who has a job to regulate wireless telegraphy), on being hell-bent in closing the pirates as soon as possible until the Radio City incident, rather one with amazing tolerance. However, I accept that many do not see it this way.