Anyone who thinks inane journalism is a modern phenomenon should take note of this recently recovered BBC interview on October 1, 1967 with Barbara Castle – then transport secretary – on The World This Weekend. I heard it on Radio 4 yesterday morning and thought it was worth passing on. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a previous generation.
Interviewer: “Minister, this is a rotten idea, you’re really spoiling my fun as a motorist so minister, what’s the idea behind it?
Castle: “The idea is to save your life, not mine. I don’t drive: you do. And I know that if you drink when you drive you’ve got a multiple chance of being killed or seriously injured so I’m ready to risk unpopularity to save your perhaps from yourself.”
Interviewer: But you’re going to stop me having a lot of fun in the process, aren’t you?
Castle: No, not at all, go out, have your Saturday night drinks with your pals but make sure somebody else drives you home.
Interviewer: You’re only a woman, you don’t drive, what do you know about it?
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey