Letter:History will honour Wilson

Geoffrey Goodman
Saturday 24 August 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.

I agree with Alan Watkins (18 August) that Channel 4's Secret History "documentary", "Harold Wilson - the Final Days", was "an utter disgrace". Indeed, I was surprised and disappointed by its unbalanced focus on the sinister, especially since the producer, Simon Berthon, is a television director of great experience as well as professional distinction.

The programme was stripped of all positive aspects of Harold Wilson's remarkable four terms as premier and his unique qualities as a Labour Party leader. It contained far too many aspects of the worst selective television drama, relieved here and there by an interesting interview most particularly with the former cabinet secretary Lord Hunt. Alan Watkins is right to protest about the imbalance, etc, as I have done to the producers.

Alan makes much play of Wilson's much trailed intention to retire early - though he knows, as we all did, that a good deal of those earlier hints were calculated to confuse his political enemies inside the Labour Party, more so than Wilson's foes on the other side of the House.

I look forward to a television documentary that sets Harold Wilson's achievements (as well as failings) in their proper perspective. I feel sure that history will accord him far greater esteem than some of the more recent shallow and superficial judgements.

Geoffrey Goodman

London NW7

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