Main Index to all Sections

Section Five Index:
Martin Bell - the untold facts

J B Hunt's first letter to Martin Bell

Martin Bell's reply

April 1997: Martin Bell announces his standing in Tatton against Hamilton on an anti-corruption platform

December 1999: Jonathan Boyd Hunt defends Neil Hamilton, following the failure of his libel action against Mohamed Fayed

J B Hunt's second letter to Martin Bell

When our politicians take a robust stance on an issue, they are expected to articulate why they had done so.  If the issue had a high profile, journalists would probe the politicians relentlessly on flaws in their argument - whilst the politicians would welcome the opportunity to air their views.

However, Martin Bell represents a new breed of politician: one who enters parliament after taking a robust stand on a high profile issue, and holds office for four years, without once articulating - or being required to articulate - his specific reasons for taking the stance that he did against Neil Hamilton on a question of corruption and sleaze.

That Bell should escape such scrutiny, and that the British media should nevertheless call on Bell as its natural spokesperson on issues of MPs' probity, tells us a great deal both about British journalism and Martin Bell himself.

Martin Bell's reply

Jonathan Boyd Hunt explains his decision to stand as an independent in Tatton in 2001 to air evidence showing that Neil Hamilton was framed by Fayed and the Guardian

Martin Bell gives his opinion on a topical sleaze issue for the BBC, yet he refuses to give any reasons to justify his decision to stand in Tatton in 1997