The Observer And Mr. Tiny Rowland

EDM number 633 in 1989-90, proposed by DN Campbell-Savours on 01/03/1990.

That this House notes the publication of the book Fleet Street Remembered by Mr Tony Gray, a collection of quotations and anecdotes from some o those who contributed to Fleet Street's role as the centre of the British newspaper industry; further notes the critical comments of senior Observer journalist Katharine Whitehorn concerning that paper's proprietor, 'With Tiny Rowland, as everybody knows, we don't care if he sells us, it couldn't be much worse'; is saddened by yet another example of how the morale and reputation of a once great radical newspaper has been brought down by the machinations of its proprietor, shamelessly aided and abetted by a complaisant editor who, prior to his appointment, was regarded as one of Fleet Street's finest journalists; trusts that Ms Whitehorn and others of moral fibre within The Observer will do all they can in difficult circumstances to maintain the best traditions of independent journalism and will continue to refuse to bend the knee to an overbearing proprietor; believes that the editor, Mr Donald Trelford, must ask Mr Rowland to go if the paper is to have any sort of future; and calls upon Mr Tiny Rowland to divest himself of control of The Observer.

This motion has been signed by a total of 1 MPs.