Newsline's scurrilous attacks

Scan page 13

Sting — came as no surpris T Oxford Mail. Social services reporter Peter Mcin- TOLA 15912«557 tyre uncovered startling facts about bed PRISMAI Who was in charge of the opcration, came to see lhi Ritter reaction of by Harry Sloan.

'THESE Newsline articles are disgusting. Obviously they have no evidence for their attack or they would have produced it.

Oxford Irades Council was fully satisfied with the account it heard of Peter Melntyre's involvement. The lies and slander of NEWSLINE will be condemned without reservation by any honest person who knows Peter's record as a trade unionist, and as a journalist — where he has in fact done a vast amount of crucial work to help homeless people in Oxford.' This was how Oxford Labour councillor David Whitfield responded to last week's scurrilous articles in the Workers Revolutionary Party's daily paper Newsline.

The articles alleged that Peter McIntyre (a well known NUJ militant and SO supporter who works for the Oxford Mail) had acted as a 'police nark' and collaborated' in the massive crackdown on social security claimants in Oxford on September 2.

Their evidence? The words of the right wing editor of the Oxford Mail! Newsline quotes only the Mail, not a single activist in the Oxford labour movement, where universal reaction to the articles has been one of revulsion at the Newsline slanders.

Labour councillor Peter Moss - actively involved in the Claimants Defence Campaign - said:

I've known Peter for several years as a sincere socialist, as a journalist and on Trades Council.

To my knowledge the Claimants Defence Committee of which I am a mem'ber has not even bothered to discuss the issue dismissing the matter with contempt if you like.

I was not surprised at the attitude of the Oxford Mail management in collaborating with the Police: but this conduct has nothing to do with Peter.

I think it's outrageous thai Newsline does not campaign in support of the Claimants' struggle but carries this material against Peter. I would have thought that whatever the angle they would have seen the attack by the police and the state as the main issue, not their own sectarian attacks on a local The anonymous Newsline poison pen writer was obviously ignorant of the full meeting of Trades Council on September 3 at which delegates heard a report of McIntyre's involvement in the Mail coverage and were satisfied.

Newsline calls for a labour movement inquiry to 'drive Mclntyre off the Trades Council' and for disciplinary action to be taken by the NUe.

An inquiry is certainis called for: into the cynical and utterly scurrilous mud-slinging by Newsline, which masquerades as a paper for the labour movement.

Socialist Organiser this week carries the initial response from Peter Mcintyre. Next week, with more space at our disposal, we will carry further response to the Newsline slanders against him, against Cowley : militant Alan Thornett, and other supporters of Socialist Organiser - slanders which speak volumes on the filthy politics of the WRP. TO the Editor - enclose a copy of a letter which has been delivered by hand to Newsline. You may publish it if you wish. I hope to be in a position soon to publish a complete account of the events leading up to the Oxford raid, but as 1 am To The Editor, Newsline, 21b Old Town, Clapham.

Dear Editor, I returned from two week's holiday last night and was shown copies of two Newsline articles arising from the police mass arrests in Oxford.

No. 16,274 Det. ! Sept. George SPECIAL NOTICE I alleged benefits swindlernrise t chanti stakes auris.

12 0% O7R27 DAYS WILL 8 sy. A last raising some issues through my union in my workplace I feel unable to do so at present.

I realise that the Newgline article was probably aimed more at you than at me and am sorry that the name of Socialist Organiser has been dragged through the mud.

The first was a page 3 piece of Monday September 13. The second was an opinion column, headed Comment, which was published two days later. I understand there are other similar pieces which I have not yet had an opportunity to see.

The two pieces I have FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1982 articles on the pliena cule Orlord Mail • they laid their cards on the table miries were endanedring it If there is a silver lining to be found it is that I am not 20 years older, in which event I would no doubt have been charged with murdering Trotsky.

How convenient it must be to discover that all political opponents are in fact police spies!

Yours fraternally, Peter Mcintyre.

seen amount to a sustained smear on my reputation, character and politics. You allege I collaborated with the police in setting up the Oxford operation and covered up information to allow them to carry it out.

Any publication which had not been hlinded hu MANGALLU HORNS Price 12p compour sectarian hysteria might have thought it important to demand rigorous checking of such severe allegations. Any NUJ member who was familiar with my record in the union would have suggested double checking.

I have worked in provincial journalism for 12 years - and yes, all of that time has been spent working on "Tory' newspapers. (Perhaps you could publish a list of the regional and provincial non-Tory press.) I have never believed that individuals, however well intentioned, could change the class nature of these newspapers. I have however tried throughout that time to report fairly, accurately and to avoid witch-hunts, especially against individuals and groups already under general attack, such as the homeless and claimants.

The articles which appeared in the Oxford Mail of September 2, and September 3 are the responsibility of the editor. I am at present taking up through my union the presentation and content of those articles. I cannot until that process is complete comment in detail on the two Oxford Mail articles.

So far as I know you made no effort to contact me or other chapel • ОГ branch officers to check whether or not the Oxford Mail articles accurately attributed my role.

At one point you accused me of 'boasting' in the Oxford Mail and follow it by quoting two paragraphs, not one word of which I wrote. Was your reporter on sabbatical from the Daily Mall or the Sun?

Certainly the style familiar.

Your Comment column begins by saying there is a prima facie case against me, finds me guilty of helping the police harass the homeless in the second paragraph and sentences me to be thrown off the trades council. Such summary justice, perhaps borrowed from your comrades in Iran — rests for its evidence on the front pages of the very newspaper which you seek to condemn, the Oxford Mail.

These untrue and defamatory allegations should be immediately withdrawn. I demand: a) publication of this letter in the next convenient issue of Newsline, and at any rate within one week;

an unreserved and complete apology in the same issue for totally unfounded allegations that I helped the police harass the homeless, collaborated in that harassment or any other such smears.

If the conditions in the above paragraph are not met I will initiate a complaint against the member of your staff responsible through the NUJ rule book. I would be grateful if you would send by return of post the name and branch of the NUJ member who takes responsibility for the articles.

Since for some reason you chose to include Socialist Organiser in your smear, I am sending a copy of this letter to that paper with my permission publish it. I am also bringing this matter to the attention of my union chapel and branch.

Yours sincerely, Peter Mcintyre.

Scan page 14

t Organiser no. 101 September 23 1982 Page 14 Se ptember 23 1982 P. ige 14

----- pull-quotes -----

How Mail reporter unearthed a benefits fiddle Our part u! the big sting

1 THF MASSIVE crackdown on an Oxford two months ago while researching

officials were staned when he began making inquiries In July, Der Supt George Hedges, the man in charge.