Letter: Real reason for Wilson resigning

Andrew Roth
Sunday 29 September 1996 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Real reason for Wilson resigning

Sir: As a former biographer of Harold Wilson (Letters, 27 September), I am astonished at how many have missed the real key to his premature resignation provided some months ago by the former Conservative MP Dr Tom Stuttaford.

Wilson told Dr Stuttaford that his mother had suffered from senile dementia, or Altzheimer's, which had converted her from a widely respected ex-teacher into a figure of ridicule. As confirmed by his chief press officer, my friend Joe Haines, Wilson's mind did begin to go in his last weeks in office.

One wonders whether this public disclosure of a medical cause for Wilson's early retirement was ignored by the director of the TV programme concerned because of poor research or the belief that Wilson's paranoia about the security service provided a "sexier" TV climax.

ANDREW ROTH

London NW2

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in