| Ref No | WEA/PP/V/8 |
| AltRefNo | 0561764 |
| Collection | Bernard Weatherill Papers |
| Title | Video of 'The Commons Touch' on Channel Four, 1989 |
| Date | 11 November 1989 |
| Extent | 1 videocassette (VHS, 60 min.) |
| Description | The Commons Touch' is programme presented by Sue Cameron and was presented a week before the beginning of the televisation of the proceedings in the House of Commons. She explores the views of MP's, ministers and backbenchers on the success and failures of the present system and attempts to anticipate any changes that may result from televisation. The particular systems examined are the operation of Prime Minister's Question Time - its procedures, the preparations, with the particular views of Margaret Thatcher and Neil Kinnock; the role of the Select Commmittees as an alternative method of holding the Government to account; the role of Whips and in particular their control of back benchers; the new dimension given by European legislation; and the unreasonable hours worked by MP's. The programme gives an overview of the workings of the Commons and as such includes interviews of Weatherill, who gives his views on the operation of his own office and oberservations on the Commons. As well as shots of the formal business, such as the Speaker's procession, there is coverage of his daily lunch time staff meetings, his description of the noise in debates as a 'safety valve', and a Speaker's Dinner. |
| Notes | Previous reference number: WEA/PP/V8/0561764
|
| Subject | Television |
| Members of Parliament |
| Parliamentary ministers |
| Parliament |
| Related Person | Cameron, Susan, (fl 1989), television presenter |
| Thatcher, Margaret, Baroness Thatcher (1925-2013), Prime Minister (1979-1990) |
| Kinnock, Neil, (1942-), Labour MP for Islwyn (1983-1997), Leader of the Labour Party (1983-1992) |
| Anderson, Howard, (fl 1989) |
| Guthrie, Derek, (fl 1989), director |
| Lapping, Anne, (fl 1989) |
| Related Organisation | Channel 4 |
| Associated Organisation | Independent Television News |
| Category | Moving image recordings
|
| Access conditions | This material is available for consultation at the University of Kent's Special Collections & Archives reading room, Templeman Library, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NU. On site access at the University of Kent only. Access to audio-visual recordings is through digital listening/viewing copies. The University of Kent acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors in this recording and the rights of those not identified |
| Copyright | Material within the archive may remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Special Collections & Archives staff will assist where possible in helping trace copyright holders, but it is ultimately the responsibility of users to obtain the permission of the copyright holder for reproduction of copyright material for uses other than research or private study. |
| Level | SubSubSeries |