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A few weeks after Hunt submitted his appeal, the ITC informed him that they had appointed a sub-committee to which he would be invited to give evidence.  Hunt had requested this hearing specifically to allow the ITC to raise any queries arising from his complaint. 

To emphasise this, in his letter of reply Hunt stated: "In the event that there is any issue of fact in my Complaint or Appeal that is disputed by Granada or any other party, I will require some notice so that I may assemble such evidence as may be necessary to address the point."

Hunt received no such indication prior to the hearing, nor was any aspect of his complaint disputed during the hearing either, as the transcript, reproduced below, shows. 

On the day Hunt was accompanied by Mr. George Gittos of Gloucestershire (right), who had been a supporter of Hunt since early 1999 after reading his book Trial by Conspiracy, though they met for the first time on the eve of the hearing.

Sir Robin Biggam
I would like to welcome you to today's meeting, and also Mr Gittos.  It would be helpful if we knew - is Mr Gittos a friend?

Jonathan Boyd Hunt
Mr Gittos is a County Councillor now; he wasn't a few weeks ago.  I asked George if he would accompany me because of the seriousness of this issue, and I think it would be worthwhile for the Commission to see an independent perspective of my research.  Mr Gittos became a supporter of sorts after reading my book, and making himself known to an ad hoc organisation called the People of Tatton For Justice. 

Sir Robin Biggam
It is just for information.  You are quite at liberty to bring anyone you wish to support your case. 

You are aware that this meeting is to hear your complaint that Granada Television breached the ITC Programme Code on due impartiality.  This was not upheld by the ITC, and you have asked for this review so that you can challenge that finding, and seek to persuade the members of this sub-committee of the Commission that Granada was in breach of the Code, and that it did not reflect, in your view, the Hamilton Cash for Questions affair in its news coverage.  This committee will hear your submission and then report back to the Commission whether or not they find in your favour.  That decision will be communicated to you after the full Commission meeting that takes place on 19 July. 

The Members of the commission who are here today are Dr Chitra Bharucha, on my left, and on Chitra's left, Jude Goffe; Michael Shea on my right; and members of staff, some of whom you have been in correspondence with: Steve Perkins, Chris Banatvala, Caroline Smith and Jenny Leyland.  We also have an external typist who will take minutes of this discussion.  These will then be passed to you, so that you can agree they are an accurate record of the meeting. 

In looking at your complaint of Granada's coverage, it is not our responsibility to determine the rights and wrongs of the Neil Hamilton/Mohamed Al Fayed saga.  It is simply to determine whether or not Granada met their responsibility to report impartially on this particular issue.  Furthermore, Granada has no statutory programme code obligation to commission or screen an investigative piece on any issue that might be in the public domain.  We will, therefore, need to focus on the relatively narrow issue of whether Granada reported the Hamilton/Fayed saga with the due impartiality required by our Code. 

No doubt you will wish to address the committee members as to why you believe Granada were in breach of the code.  In doing so, may I suggest that you limit your remarks to those areas where we have some jurisdiction, and some powers, namely your allegation that Granada's coverage failed to reflect due impartiality, rather than the rights and wrongs of the Neil Hamilton/Al Fayed positions.  In the event that the sub-committee believes that you have raised sufficient grounds to challenge the findings of the Commission, then Granada will be given the opportunity, prior to the next Commission meeting, to comment on the additional evidence you have given.

Jonathan Boyd Hunt
First of all I would like to say thank you very much indeed to the Commission for the clear gravity you have given my complaint, and I would like you to know my appreciation of that. 

I have brought with me today all sorts of documentary evidence which I do not expect to have to refer to, but is there to be referred to should the Commission have any questions that come on the back of my and George's presentation.  Before coming here, because I am so close to this affair, and because Mr Gittos has impressed me with his objective assessment of this affair previously, I have asked him if he would make the presentation to the Commission, if that is agreeable to the Commission.

Sir Robin Biggam
Yes, it is your decision.

Jonathan Boyd Hunt
I will let George kick off.

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