Westland affair - New allegations of cover-up

Title

Westland affair - New allegations of cover-up

Genre

News report; Parliamentary debate

TX Date

16 Jan 1986

Year of production

1986

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Duration

00:03:31

Description

The Government has promised a full and robust statement on new allegations about Trade Secretary Leon Brittan’s role in the Westland affair. Brittan’s head of press information, Miss Colette Bow, is suspected of leaking a letter from Solicitor General Sir Patrick Mayhew to the then Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine. Labour MP Tam Dalyell names Miss Bow in the House of Commons, asking on whose authority she leaked the letter. Labour leader Neil Kinnock calls for a conclusive statement from the Government. According to SDP leader David Owen, the whole country is anxious to find the truth of the matter. As Labour’s Dennis Skinner demands in the Commons, the truth will have to come out. Female reporter not identified.

Contributors

David Owen; Neil Kinnock; Dennis Skinner; Tam Dalyell

Keywords

Politics; Government; Conservative Party; Government policy; Documents; Aerospace industry; Leon Brittan; Westland Helicopters; Raymond Lygo; Colette Bow

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