Janus: The Papers of Neil Kinnock

Churchill/KNNK contains:
<-- See earlier
17	Broadcasts and interviews
18	Press cuttings
19	Visits and meetings
20	Constituency
21	European Commission
22	Private Office
23	Diaries and schedules
24	Literary
25	Photographs
26	Audio-visual
27	British Council

More information

Please feel free to contact the repository.

The Papers of Neil Kinnock

Title	Broadcasts and interviews
Reference	KNNK 17
Covering Dates	1983–2003 (The majority of folios date from 1983-1999.)
Extent and Medium	19 archive boxes

Content and context

Articles by NK and concerning NK, and transcripts of television and radio broadcasts and interviews given by NK, with associated correspondence and briefings. Includes European Commission interviews and requests for interviews.

Further information

See also the correspondence of Patricia Hewitt, and legal cases against the press and media contracts in KNNK 22, Private Office papers.

Index Terms

Journalism

Press

Churchill/KNNK 17 contains:

Articles by and on NK. Includes: issues of New Socialist and Marxism Today with articles on Europe, the Labour manifesto and the 1983 General Election; series of articles by NK for the Daily Mirror, "Why I am angry", Jan 1984; transcript of a Weekend World interview with NK on the way back from the 1983 General Election; statement and background papers on a BBC investigation into Old People's Homes; issue of the Observer with article on NK's life.
1 file.

Mar 1983-Apr 1984

Press cuttings: articles on NK. Includes: an article by John Mortimer on NK and Glenys Kinnock; text of NK's Fabian lecture on The Future of Socialism; an article by Robert Harris on the marketing of NK; personal magazine interviews with NK.
1 file.

1983-Mar 1989

The Guardian: correspondence. Includes: press cuttings of articles on NK from the Guardian; correspondence with Guardian journalists, including a letter from Jack Ashley, complaining about an attack on NK, and a suggestion for a biography of NK; briefings for interviews; press releases, including a summary of Labour's position on nuclear power; a press pack for "Labour, putting people first", part of the Freedom and Fairness campaign (1986); text of an article by NK on Nicaragua.
1 file.

Apr 1983-Mar 1987

Channel 4: correspondence. Includes: correspondence with Channel 4 journalists, including: Elizabeth Forgan, Assistant Controller of Programmes; script for a programme on Robert Maxwell, chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers Limited and the Daily Mirror; briefing for an interview with Peter Jay on A Week in Politics, including advice on NK's replies to questions.
1 file.

Jun 1983-Oct 1985

Miscellaneous media correspondence. Correspondence on press and television interviews.
1 file.

Jun 1983-Mar 1986

Annotated transcript of Tribune interview. Interview on why Labour lost the 1983 General Election, the future of Labour and NK's bid for the party leadership.
1 file.

Jul 1983

Industrial Correspondents Group. Briefing to the group on the coal industry and note on the history and aims of the group.
1 file.

Sep 1983-Nov 1983

Transcripts of interviews. Transcripts of television and press interviews, including Face the Press (Sept 1983), TV-AM and David Frost (Mar 1985) and TV Eye (Feb 1986). Also includes press releases and various magazine articles on NK, on subjects including the party leadership contenders, 1983, a new deal for Europe, 1984, and South Africa, 1986.
1 file.

Sep 1983-Sep 1986

Daily Star, Daily Mail and Daily Express: articles and correspondence. Press cuttings and texts of interviews with and articles on and by NK, including correspondence with journalists.
1 file.

Sep 1983-Dec 1986

Daily Mirror: correspondence. Includes: correspondence with Mirror journalists and with Robert Maxwell [chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers Limited] and with others including James Sillars on allegations about Maxwell's funding of Labour; briefings for interviews; Mirror Group statements on their dispute with the print unions, 1985; text of a speech by Maxwell on his support for a Labour Government; correspondence and notes of meetings on Maxwell's takeover of the Mirror, 1984, including a note of support from Lord Lever; statement by NK refuting allegations by Private Eye that Maxwell funded his foreign tours.
1 file.

Sep 1983-Oct 1986

Private Eye libel case. Legal papers and correspondence with Robert Maxwell [chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers Limited] and Private Eye on allegations that Maxwell had funded NK's foreign tours.
1 file.

Jul 1985-Oct 1985

Foreign press. Correspondence with journalists from non-European press, mainly requesting interviews with NK, with cuttings of articles by and on NK.
1 file.

Sep 1983-Apr 1986

European press. Correspondence with journalists from European press, mainly requesting interviews with NK, with cuttings of articles by and on NK and issues of Die Neue Gesellschaft on NK and the Labour Party.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Oct 1986

Foreign Press Association: correspondence. Includes text of NK's speech to a Foreign Press Association lunch, on disarmament and the international economy, 1983.
1 file.

Nov 1983-May 1985

Ethnic minority press briefing. Correspondence and notes on a special press briefing held by NK on Labour's policy towards ethnic minorities, including a request from Max Madden for NK to do an interview with a newspaper serving the Asian community in the North West.
1 file.

Nov 1983-Apr 1984

Ethnic minority press. Requests for interviews, correspondence and cuttings, mainly from the Asian press, including a note from Sydney Bidwell.
1 file.

Dec 1983-Mar 1986

Glenys Kinnock: correspondence. Correspondence and cuttings on interviews with Glenys Kinnock, including a transcript of an interview with BBC West Midlands, an article by Glenys Kinnock on the crisis in education and a statement on peace education.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Jan 1986

IBA. Correspondence with various ITV television companies and briefings, on television interviews with NK, particularly a World in Action programme on Labour's policies for employment and reindustrialisation, and also interviews on the miners' strike, the state of the economy and NK's record as Labour leader.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Se 1986

Television and radio interview transcripts. Includes: a BBC radio programme on Socialism redefined; Weekend World interviews with Francis Pym on the challenge to Margaret Thatcher [Prime Minister] from her own party and on the trade unions' clash with the courts; A Week in Politics interview with Peter Jay; statements in support of Birmingham's bid for the Olympic Games in 1992; World at One interview on the forthcoming Party Conference, 1986; Hot Seat interview with Anneka Rice.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Aug 1986

BBC: correspondence. Correspondence on BBC interviews with NK and coverage of Labour in general, with correspondents including: Peter Mandelson, Director of Campaigns and Communications on a story about him and the panel for Question Time being leaked to the Guardian; Margaret Douglas, Chief Assistant to the Director General (2); Peter Pagnamenta, Head of Current Affairs, Television; David Dimbleby. . Also includes: the BBC's response to an assessment by Conservative Central Office on their coverage of American air strikes against Libya, with copies of letters from Douglas Hurd, Home Secretary, Marmaduke Hussey, Chairman Designate of the BBC, and Lord Barnett, Vice Chairman; briefing for an interview on the Today Programme, on NK's visits to Europe, the Stockholm Conference on arms control [Sweden] and the situation in the Lebanon, July 1984; summary of news coverage of NK's success in getting his defence policy through the National Executive Committee; briefing for a World this Weekend interview on support for a coalition with the Social Democrat/Liberal Alliance; transcript of a BBC radio programme on Socialism redefined.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Nov 1986

Panorama: transcripts. Transcripts of and briefings for interviews with NK on the BBC Panorama programme, on subjects including: the Welfare State; the miners' strike; defence; the Social Democrat/Liberal Alliance; relations between NK and Roy Hattersley, Deputy Leader.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Dec 1984

Observer: correspondence. Correspondence with the Observer on interviews with and articles by NK and coverage of Labour in general, with correspondents including: Robin Cook; Adam Raphael, Political Editor (2); Donald Trelford, Editor (2).
1 file.

Oct 1983-Apr 1986

Sunday Times: correspondence. Correspondence with the Sunday Times on interviews with and articles by NK and coverage of Labour in general, with correspondents including: Michael Jones, Political Editor; Claire Tomalin, Literary Editor; Harold Evans, former Editor. Also includes: text of an article by [James] Gordon Brown on Labour as the party of industry; text of an article on Labour's economic and industrial strategy; draft article on Labour's revival; questions on the Government's failure to refer the acquisition of the Sunday Times by Rupert Murdoch [Chairman of News International] to the Monopolies Commission. Other subjects include the dispute between News International and the print unions at Wapping [London].
1 file.

Oct 1983-May 1986

Scandinavian Press: correspondence. Correspondence on interviews with NK.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Mar 1985

Magazines: correspondence. Correspondence on and briefings for interviews with NK, including a transcript of his interview with Eric Hobsbawm for Marxism Today on Labour's future strategy.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Dec 1986

News of the World: correspondence and articles. Correspondence on and cuttings and texts of interviews with NK, with correspondents including Derek Jameson, Editor.
1 file.

Nov 1983-Feb 1986

Ireland: requests for interviews. Correspondence on requests for interviews by the Irish press.
1 file.

Nov 1983-Jan 1986

Women's magazines. Correspondence on interviews with NK, including a transcript of an interview, mainly on NK's views on women.
1 file.

Dec 1983-Mar 1986

Medical correspondents. Correspondence on interviews with NK, including drafts of an article for World Medicine on the Government's health policies.
1 file.

Nov 1983-Dec 1983

Times: correspondence. Correspondence on interviews with NK.
1 file.

Dec 1983-Jul 1986

Requests for interviews. General media requests.
1 file.

Mar 1984-Oct 1986

Weekend World. Briefings, arrangements (including correspondence with Peter Mandelson, producer) and transcripts for NK's interviews with Brian Walden for Weekend World. Subjects include: economic policy and Labour's attitude to the City; NK's visits to Europe, the Stockholm Conference on arms control [Sweden] and the situation in the Lebanon; foreign policy; renationalisation; pensions; defence; energy.
1 file.

Jan 1983-Sep 1985

Weekend World. Briefings, arrangements and transcripts for NK's interview with Brian Walden for Weekend World, Jan 1984. Subjects include: electoral strategy; economic policy; renationalisation; trade unions; defence; pensions. Includes a transcript of an earlier Weekend World interview with [William] John Biffen, Leader of the House of Commons, on Government cuts to public spending.
1 file.

Oct 1983-Jan 1984

Miscellaneous transcripts. Includes: transcripts of the BBC Radio 4 programme Talking Politics on the role of the Opposition.
1 file.

Jan 1984-Nov 1985

Transcripts of NK broadcasts and interviews. Includes: World this Weekend, Jan 1984; extracts from interviews on the miners' strike, Apr-Oct 1984; address by NK to the Confederation of Health Service Employees, June 1984; comment on Ronald Reagan's re-election as President of the United States, Nov 1984; World this Weekend, Dec 1985; Face the Press, Feb 1986; BBC Radio 4 Analysis interview with Hugo Young, Mar 1987; Frost on Sunday, May 1987.
1 file.

Jan 1984-May 1987

Transcripts of NK television and radio interviews. Includes: Sixty Minutes, on international relations and the coal industry, May 1984; interview with Peter Jay on the miners' strike, economic policy, defence and party reform, May 1984; interview on racism and ethnic minority representation in Labour, June 1984; press statement on a meeting between the National Executive Committee and National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on putting the case for coal, Dec 1984; interview on the Today Programme on the economy, Feb 1985; interviews on TV-AM with Jonathan Dimbleby on subjects including energy policy and international relations, Sept 1985, May 1986; This Week Next Week interview, on subjects including relations with the trade unions, defence and the Social Democrat/Liberal Alliance, Sept 1986; BBC Radio 4 Analysis interview with Hugo Young, Mar 1987.
1 file.

May 1984-Mar 1987

World in Action: transcript of "The spy who never was".
1 file.

Jul 1984

General media correspondence. Correspondence, transcripts and briefings on newspaper, television and radio interviews with NK and coverage of Labour in general, including: correspondence between David Blunkett and Marmaduke Hussey, Chairman of the BBC, on unequal coverage given to Labour and the Conservatives; correspondence on press stories about the Inner London Education Authority; briefing for BBC Radio 4 Analysis interview with Hugo Young; transcript of a BBC Radio 3 interview with Michael Charlton; questionnaire mailing to target seat test group; scripts for party political broadcasts on unemployment, industry and the economy (one given by Glenda Jackson); briefing note on broadcasting policy; media schedule for Feb-Apr 1987; transcript of a Today Programme interview on the seizure of BBC material on national security grounds; briefing for a visit relating to cold weather payments to the elderly; correspondence with Max Hastings, Editor of the Daily Telegraph; summary of letters received on Labour's defence policy.
2 files.

Sep 1984-May 1987

Newsnight. Transcripts of and briefing for interviews on subjects including the miners' strike, defence, economic policy and the Social Democrat/Liberal Alliance. Also includes correspondence between the BBC and Peter Mandelson, Director of Campaigns and Communications, on coverage of Labour in general.
1 file.

Oct 1984-Dec 1985

Welsh media. Correspondence and cuttings on interviews with NK and coverage of Labour in general.
1 file.

Oct 1984-Dec 1985

Mail on Sunday: correspondence. Correspondence on and briefing for interviews with NK and coverage of Labour in general.
1 file.

Nov 1984-Apr 1986

Miscellaneous interviews. Includes: issue of New Socialist with an article on NK's leadership; issue of Marxism Today with an interview between NK and Eric Hobsbawm; briefing for an Old Grey Whistle Test interview, on Labour and pop music; interview with NK in Cardiff University's student weekly magazine.
1 file.

Oct 1984-Jun 1985

Requests for interviews declined.
2 files.

Feb 1985-Dec 1985

General media correspondence. Correspondence on interviews with NK, also including press releases and briefings for interviews.
1 file.

May 1985-Nov 1986

Media: general papers. Briefings, correspondence and cuttings on the press, including: papers relating to Labour's boycott of News International journalists; interview with NK for the Police Review; correspondence with Sir Michael Havers, Attorney General on official leaks relating to share dealing irregularities involving Westland Helicopter Company.
1 file.

Jan 1986-Jun 1986

Weekend World. Correspondence and briefings for interviews, Feb-Mar 86, mainly on redistribution of wealth and poverty. Includes transcripts of earlier interviews with Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister, and with NK, Jan 1984, "Labour Under Kinnock".
1 file.

Jan 1984-Apr 1986

The Daily Telegraph, Today and The Sun: correspondence. Correspondence on coverage of NK and Labour in general.
1 file.

Feb 1986-Jul 1986

Transcripts of NK television and radio interviews. Transcripts including: NK's This Week Next Week interview with David Dimbleby, on subjects including relations with the trade unions, defence and the Social Democrat/Liberal Alliance, Sept 1986; transcript of NK's This Week interview, "The Next PM?", with Jonathan Dimbleby, on subjects including defence, unemployment and the economy, Oct 1986.
1 file.

Sep 1986-Oct 1986

News on Sunday: correspondence. Correspondence and briefings on funding for the News on Sunday [a new newspaper funded by unions and local authority pension funds].
1 file.

c Dec 1986

Express Newspapers. Papers on NK's libel action against Express Newspapers, after the Daily Express alleged that he began a speech during the General Election campaign with a series of "blue jokes".
1 file.

Jun 1987-Nov 1987

Media. Photocopied articles, press releases and interviews on subjects including: the practice of freedom; defence and nuclear disarmament; NK's green credentials; and the rights of immigrants in Europe. Includes a letter from Hanif Kureishi explaining that he had been set up into giving an interview critical of NK; NK's interview with NME; text of Mikhail Gorbachev's address to the UN on nuclear disarmament.
1 file.

Jun 1987-Jan 1992

Interviews and articles. Includes: briefing for an interview with the Jewish Chronicle on Labour's attitude to the Jews and Israel, c Nov 1988; Australian article on NK, May 1989; briefings for interviews with David Frost and Julian Manion, on the economy and industry, quality of life, Europe, the Poll Tax, NK's own view of his chances in the next General Election and party reform, c Dec 1989; transcript of Frost on Sunday interview, Dec 1989; press copy of a letter from NK to Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister, on the abolition of the Poll Tax, Dec 1990.
1 file.

c Nov 1988-Dec 1990

Media correspondence. Correspondents include: Ian McAllister, Chairman of Ford Motor Company Limited, apologising for remarks about Labour which were taken out of context; Sir David Nicholas, Chairman of ITN, on ITN journalists who had gone missing in Iraq; Melvyn Bragg on opposing a clause on impartiality in the Broadcasting Bill; Clare Short on being misrepresented in an article in the Irish Times on the withdrawal of British forces from Northern Ireland. Also includes: rough notes on the importance of industry to a stable economy; correspondence and legal papers on allegations in the Sunday Times about NK's time as President of the Students' Union at University College, Cardiff; correspondence and legal papers on Glenys Kinnock's libel case against the Evening Standard for suggesting that she was part of a conspiracy to cover up failing reading standards in schools.
1 file.

Apr 1990-Jan 1992

Peter Hennessy interview. Correspondence and briefing for NK's interview, for the Independent, on NK's style of Cabinet Government.
1 file.

Dec 1990

Brian Walden interview. Briefing for an interview on subjects including: differences between Labour and the Conservatives under John Major; policy for industry; the health service; the Poll Tax; transport policy; environmental policy; economic policy on taxation and inflation.
1 file.

Apr 1991

Mirror Group pension fund scandal. Briefing on the misappropriation of the Mirror Group pension fund by Robert Maxwell.
1 file.

c Dec 1991

David Frost interview. Background documents and briefing notes for an interview on subjects including: health; education; the economy; defence.
1 file.

Mar 1992

"Neil Kinnock, the Lost Leader". Correspondence and transcript for David Dimbleby's interview with NK for the Political Memoirs series, on the loss of the 1992 General Election (including the Sheffield rally, Yorkshire, Apr 1992) and NK's career as leader of the Labour Party. Includes briefing and earlier source material on Labour's approach to European Economic and Monetary Union and defence, and a statement by NK pleading for unity within Labour, Sept 1982. Also includes a note on a proposed Scottish television series on "Europe, The Superpower", presented by NK.
1 file.

Sep 1992-Dec 1992

Letters of congratulation for radio stand-in. Letters of congratulation from the general public for NK's stand-in for John Dunn on BBC Radio 2.
1 file.

Feb 1993

"Tomorrow's Socialism". Papers on NK's contribution to a BBC programme, including: rough notes on socialist principles; correspondence with Peter Kellner on Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution, on the party's aims and values; background papers on subjects including pensions and working conditions; annotated script on subjects including: the divisions in American society; the combination of capitalism and ethical socialism in Europe; the need to rewrite Labour's Clause IV; taxation; pension provision in Britain.
1 file.

Dec 1993-Jan 1994

European Commission: written interviews. Interviews and articles by NK, mostly relating to European transport policy and trans-European network issues.
3 files.

May 1995-Jul 1997

European Commission: written interviews. Interviews and articles by NK, with questions and answers, mostly relating to European transport policy and trans-European network issues.
3 files.

Oct 1995-Dec 1997

European Commission: requests for interviews. Requests for interviews and articles, and replies to written questions, mostly relating to European transport policy and trans-European network issues.
4 files.

Jan 1995-May 1995

European Commission: requests for interviews. Includes some articles by NK, mostly relating to European transport policy and trans-European network issues. Originally entitled "Memorandum Grec, Chrono 1995".
2 files.

Mar 1995-Jul 1995

European Commission: requests for interviews. Includes some articles by NK, mostly relating to European transport policy and trans-European network issues. Originally entitled "New Chrono".
2 files.

Sep 1995-Dec 1995

European Commission: requests for interviews.
2 files.

Jan 1996-Nov 1996

European Commission: requests for interviews. Originally entitled "Chrono". Includes a section on the 1997 General Election, with NK's response to questions on Labour and Europe.
3 files.

Sep 1996-Oct 1997

European Commission: requests for interviews. Originally entitled "Chrono".
1 file.

Oct 1997-May 1998

European Commission: requests for interviews refused.
4 files.

Feb 1997-May 1999

European Commission: "interviews yes". Requests, arrangements and briefings for interviews, mainly with the BBC, on subjects including the European elections, the resignation of the Commission and European transport issues.
1 file.

Jan 1998-May 1999

European Commission: Mediateur. Interviews and articles by NK, mostly relating to European transport policy and trans-European network issues.
3 files.

Jan 1998-Jun 1999

"Alive and Kicking: The Story of Welsh Soccer". Scripts for BBC Radio Wales, annotated by NK for recording.
1 file.

Aug 2003-Sep 2003