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(Continued from overleaf)
That same day Harding also telephoned me and threatened a smear article if I published my book on our investigation. I visited Miss Woodward that afternoon and informed her that the Guardian were out to smear me. After pressing her she acknowledged that had no complaints about the standard of my work during my time at Granada. She did not inform me that she had already spoken to World in Action/Guardian reporters Luke Harding or David Leigh.
On 2 October Private Eye published a smear article about me on information supplied by the Guardian, which contained a defamatory remark attributed to Sue Woodward. In response to my request for clarification, Miss Woodward issued a statement denying having expressed an opinion about me to any reporter.
On 8 October I wrote to Miss Woodward thanking her for her statement, and informing her of my forthcoming press conference in Westminster to launch my book Trial by Conspiracy. I appealed to her to take an interest in our investigation, giving as my reason: 'Neil and Christine Hamilton looked to unbiased journalism to clear their names.' No response was forthcoming.
On 16 October Private Eye published Miss Woodward's statement, together with a footnote from the acting editor, Guardian journalist Francis Wheen. Wheen openly repudiated Miss Woodward's denial, by stating that Miss Woodward had 'dished the dirt on Jonathan Hunt' during two lengthy telephone calls to a Guardian reporter earlier that year.
On 19 October I launched my book Trial by Conspiracy in the Palace of Westminster. Though Granada had been informed, both by myself and by my publicists, no one from Granada attended. Camera crews from ITN and the BBC recorded the proceedings, which was also attended by World in Action/Guardian reporters David Pallister, David Leigh, and Mark Hollingsworth. Two other Guardian reporters were present. David Leigh caused maximum disruption. Despite ITN's presence, ITN did not report the conference having given a strong indication previously that they would do so. BBC NW broadcast an item about the book launch later that evening. Granada did not mention the conference or the book in any of its bulletins. Neither did the Guardian.
On 25 October BBC NW broadcast another item about the book launch, as part of its weekend political programme. Granada remained silent.
On 30 October the Spectator carried a letter from Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, responding to an article written by Stephen Glover the previous week. Rusbridger repeated the defamatory comment about me that had appeared in Private Eye, which had been ascribed to Miss Woodward. Alan Rusbridger however ascribed the comment to Jonathan Hunt's 'former boss,' which is another clear reference to Miss Woodward.
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1999
In February David Lonsdale of the People of Tatton for Justice sent out circulars to the local news media about his association of Hamilton supporters, which had started up as a consequence of reading my book. His wife, Jane, wrote a letter to Granada's This Morning programme, imploring the interest of Richard and Judy.
On 26 February BBC NW broadcast an item featuring David and Jane Lonsdale and their group's activities. Granada did not respond to any of David & Jane Lonsdale's circulars and have never acknowledged their group's existence.
In March Neil Hamilton continued his legal battle to win the right to sue Fayed for libel. BBC NW reported news of progress on 9 March, 14 March, and Hamilton's historic victory on 26 March. Granada did not report Hamilton's legal battle once.
On 21 December, following Neil Hamilton's defeated libel action against Fayed, the national BBC contacted me, and separately contacted David Lonsdale to respond to the verdict. I appeared on News 24 later that evening, whilst David's wife Jane stood in for her husband a few hours later and appeared on Newsnight. Granada instead interviewed Hamilton's adversary Martin Bell for his comments.
The next day BBC NW transmitted more news items about the Hamilton's anticipated homecoming, again featuring Jane Lonsdale. Granada Television have never contacted the Lonsdales or myself with respect to the Neil Hamilton affair.
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