Editing Tony Benn

Abstract

The relationship between Tony Benn MP and the British Press is one of continuing fascination to journalists, politicians, academics- and indeed all voters. Ruth Winstone has been editing the political diaries of Tony Benn since April 1986 and four volumes have now been published covering the years 1963 to 1980. A fifth, now in preparation for publication in 1992, will encompass Labour's prolonged period of Opposition during the 'Thatcher Decade' and its immediate aftermath. Ruth Winstone has written a personal piece for the British Journalism Review in which she discusses the problems of working on the Benn chronicles and of the difficulties involved with the media in working with a highly controversial political figure.