Peter Hennessy's gathering of political inside stories made fascinating listening
One Hundred Years of Secrecy (Radio 4), a look at secrets in political life, had a few secrets of its own. Presenter Peter Hennessy interviewed Sir Bernard Ingham who thundered on about how he didn't like civil servants speaking to journalists but not to him when he was working for Margaret Thatcher.
"The sheer hypocrisy of the whole blessed thing," he fumed. "The MoD were determined to keep me out of the picture. If we had not been at war, I'd have tendered my resignation," he said. "I didn't know that," said Hennessy, his journalist's antennae all a-bristle.
There was also a behind-the-scenes moment, described by Frank Field. He had leaked cabinet minutes relating to child benefit, and Special Branch were asking his neighbours for any dirt they might have on him. At that moment, he recalled, "I was desperately trying to flush the remains of the minutes down the toilet."
Hennessy is an excellent presenter, with the writer's knack of making lively phrases. The subject has an obvious fascination, especially when it creeps up to modern times. I liked Ted Heath's private secretary remembering when he was asked to find the source of a leak, only to find it was the prime minister himself. "[Heath's] old shoulders went a bit at that one," he said.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/aug/16/one-hundred-years-of-secrecy
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