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The Little Book of Bell

But despite all the unsavoury facts about Martin Bell that have been aired in this little book, it is the British media's deference towards the man that is the real unpalatable truth.  Indeed, whenever there is a political controversy involving sleaze allegations, the first person the BBC News & Current Affairs turns to for wise counsel is its own offspring.  Whether it is Bernie Eccleston's £1 million donation to the Labour Party; or the various alleged improprieties of Labour ministers, you can count on Bell's contacts at the BBC to turn to him as the oracle of wisdom on the subject.

Yet Bell's BBC colleagues have never asked him for a specific, addressable list of the wrongdoings of his predecessor, though Bell had cited these to justify his entry in the 1997 election.  In fact, in the four years that Bell has represented the Tatton constituency, the British media has asked him only once to list the reasons why he stood in Tatton, if as he claimed, he didn't stand on 'cash for questions'.  The person who asked the question was Jeremy Isaacs, on BBC TV's Face to Face, broadcast on 9 February 1998, and the answers Bell gave Isaacs were deliberately untruthful.

Jonathan Boyd Hunt, author of Trial by Conspiracy, wrote to Bell twice in July 1999, asking him to itemise specifically the 'wrongdoings' that he claimed Neil Hamilton had committed, which Bell claimed had justified his standing in Tatton. Hunt wrote:

'I have examined all the 'wrongdoing' allegations produced by David Leigh [of The Guardian], and I cannot find any that hold water, least of all any that warrant your intervention in the election. However, as these continue to provide the basis for your tenure of the Tatton seat, I request that you put together an itemised, definitive list of what you allege Neil Hamilton's wrongdoings to be, so that they can be tested by the facts, and the people of Tatton given the opportunity to appraise them for themselves.'

Bell responded with a vague allegation that Neil Hamilton had received certain 'gifts', which he should have declared. As this is untrue, Hunt wrote to Bell again the following week, requesting that he lists his specific charges, such as the supposed gifts that Hamilton should have registered. However, Bell did not answer this most simple of requests but instead closed the correspondence with a brusque letter just two lines long.

In March 2001, Hunt announced his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the Tatton constituency. This was picked up by UKPOL Magazine and by the gossip columnist on the Independent's Review section, 'Pandora,' which led with an item in the 9 March issue.
    A few days later, Jane Lonsdale, of The People of Tatton for Justice, telephoned the Pandora desk and spoke with journalist John Davison. Jane promised Davison that she would raise £1,000 for Comic Relief if Martin Bell would agree to a half hour interview with Hunt. An incredulous Davison publicised the offer in the Pandora column four days later, expecting that Bell would have sufficient evidence of Neil Hamilton's transgressions that he would jump at the opportunity to repeat them for charity.
    Before Bell had been contacted, a number of readers e-mailed Pandora with their own pledges, swelling the total to £1,805. John Davison subsequently put the proposal to Bell, who, to his astonishment, rebuffed it without hesitation. The following week, on Comic Relief's 'Red Nose' day, Davison returned to the story and reported to his readers what had happened:

Here on Red Nose Day, we at Pandora were hoping to bring tidings of great joy for the suffering souls of Africa and our own poor folk.  Referring, of course, to our innovative scheme, in collaboration with People of Tatton for Justice, to raise cash by getting local MP Martin "Man in a White Suit" Bell to answer a few simple questions in front of the telly cameras about why, exactly, he stood against (allegedly) "Venal" Neil Hamilton in the 1997 election.  Should be a stroll on the heath, one might imagine, for such an old TV pro as Marty.  And, we are delighted to say, the generosity of our concerned readership has so far boosted the total pledged from its original £1,000 to a mighty £1,805.  Well done you all!  So what about it, "Ding Dong"?

"The matter was settled politically by an overwhelming majority of the voters in May 1997, and judicially by the unanimous verdict of a British jury, furthermore confirmed by the Court of Appeal.  And that was the end of the matter," said Marty yesterday.  So that'll be a no, then?  "It doesn't sound like a yes, does it?"  What, even with all the extra money on offer?  "Er, no. Um, no. I'm not going to be inveigled into doing this," he said.  Not even for Comic Relief?  Oh, go on Marty - don't be a meany.  No?

RIGHT THEN, you former concerned face of British broadcasting, here is what you have just turned down.  Some 3,610 limb strengtheners for disabled Ethiopian children .  Or 361 days of counselling for

widows (30 at a time) of the Rwandan genocide.  Or 602 special chairs for children in Zanzibar with spinal problems.  Or 30,083 bags of toiletries for newly arrived asylum seekers at a drop-in centre.  Or 113 training packs to help carers of dementia sufferers.  And so on - according to Comic Relief's own figures.  It's not as though "Meany" Martin hasn't had some time to consider the matter in hand.  Or maybe, after all the excitement, he just can't remember.  Seems kindof odd, though.  Maybe we'll have to keep asking him if we are promised even more money.  Keep those pledges coming.

The fact that the self-appointed authority on Neil Hamilton's misdemeanours wouldn't articulate what they're supposed to be - even to the point of turning down £2,000 to good causes - tells us one thing loud and clear. None of Martin Bell's, Mohamed Al Fayed's, or The Guardian's allegations against Neil Hamilton bear scrutiny.

In the looking-glass world of contemporary Britain, Bell proved that it is even possible to become an MP on the back of a media witch-hunt.  But this would be not the only time that the media, including Bell especially, have jumped to conclusions on scant understandings of the facts....

Chapter Six, Part Two

Chapter Eight