This episode covers the influence of Margaret Thatcher and whether this is weakening, the right of reply, and a statement by the social services secretary Norman Fowler. This episode begins with Richard Whiteley introducing the topics that will be discussed; Whiteley notes the introduction of one MP who will be arguing the right of reply and Margaret Thatcher's response to football hooliganism occurring in Brussels. He then introduces Geoff Druett who is in the London Studio. Geoff...

This episode covers the influence of Margaret Thatcher and whether this is weakening, the right of reply, and a statement by the social services secretary Norman Fowler. This episode begins with Richard Whiteley introducing the topics that will be discussed; Whiteley notes the introduction of one MP who will be arguing the right of reply and Margaret Thatcher's response to football hooliganism occurring in Brussels. He then introduces Geoff Druett who is in the London Studio. Geoff Druett reports on the statement given by the social service secretary Normal Fowler (Fowler states that what is occurring is the biggest shake up in the welfare state since the Beveridge report, he claims that the number of people collecting welfare is rising as the size of the tax paying population which supports this is declining). Geoff Druett then introduces to the London studio three MPs to discuss the implication of the new welfare package and their differing viewpoints on the negative effects of this. Roy Galley (Conservative MP for Halifax), Max Madden (Labour MP for Bradford West), and Charles Kennedy (SDP, MP for Ross Cromarty & Skye) all discuss at length the package. The show then returns to Richard Whiteley in the Leeds studio who introduces Edward Pearce from the London Studio, Pearce is a political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph who forecast that Margaret Thatcher would not be leading the Tory party into the next election. Richard Whiteley plays devil's advocate in suggesting that the events in Brussels regarding football hooliganism have revived her popularity to which Pearce argues it is a purposefully advantageous move. Edward Pearce carries his opinion strongly throughout and towards the end of his feature on the episode goes on to list certain MPs who he personally thinks should leave parliament and why. The episode then pans to the segment of the show called Calendar Commentary Private Bill in the Leeds Studio; this part of the episode focuses on bringing in an MP to suggest a bill they would hypothetically put in place. This episodes MP is Kevin Barron (a former miner who became Labour MP for Rother Valley in two years previous to this), his bill suggestion is the idea of an automatic right of reply to the media from members of the public to any unjust allegation or misinterpretation. One example Barron notes is the use of media during the miners strikes to only show the aggressive side of picketing to change public interpretations. Richard Whiteley then introduces newspaper man Bernard Deneen who argues against the bill by making the point of it impending free speech and this is a typical campaign for press freedom presented by labour and communist parties. Richard Whiteley ends the episode by introducing a forum for letters to be sent to the studio so the show can broadcast the publics views. Whiteley concluded the episodes and the credits roll over imagery of Westminster Abbey whilst the theme tune plays. Presenters RICHARD WHITELEY & GEOFF DRUETT Featuring KEVIN BARRON MP, BERNARD DINEEN, ROY GALLEY MP, CHARLES KENNEDY MP, MAX MADDEN MP, EDWARD PEARCE Editorial Assistant JULIE KIRKBRIDGE Director GARY WARD Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE Yorkshire Television LTD 1985 YORKSHIRE TELEVISION PRODUCTION