IT WAS A good idea to bring together political leaders
and television nabobs to discuss the future of political broadcasting; and an excellent idea to bring them together unofficially, without pub- licity—particularly as the rendezvous was Oxford, which must have provided a suitably calm atmo- sphere in which to discuss problems over which hackles so easily, and so often, rise. I don't know what, if anything, was decided, but the politicians would in my view be well advised to abandon all attempt to control what may, and what may not, be broadcast about politics, at any time : leaving it to the good sense of the television authorities, who, no doubt, will set up some advisory panel which can recommend the general lines of policy to be followed. It will be objected that in no time we might be watching some comedian guying Mr. Macmillan and Mr. Gaitskell (or, more probably, Lord Hailsham and Mr. Bevan) on the air—some- thing which is not allowed even on the stage. Well, it should be allowed. It would do a power of good to politicians to see themselves as others see them, for a change, and not as they like to see themselves, in their Westminster Club. It would certainly lead to their being more popular, and much better known, if they did allow themselves to be mocked. But I suppose they won't.
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