40 years on
Today, 40 years have passed since the Marine Offences Act was passed. This piece of proto-Blairite legislation effectively outlawed the offshore pirates - although it couldn't stop a station from broadcasting from International Waters, it forbade any British person or company to work on, supply or advertise on, or even publuish programme details of, an offshore pirate radio station.
Back in the 1990s, I made the mistake of defending the Labour party for their role in passing this piece of hated legislation. Now, after 10 years of having to live under a New Labour government, I find myself eating the words I said at the time. (Although even a large helping of sauce can't relieve the nasty taste in my mouth, from having once supported a party which has pissed on all our civil liberties - not just those of free radio fans).
One point I made at the time, however, I do stand by. The Tories have been no better, no kinder to free radio. Not only did they not repeal the MOA, they actually strengthened the laws against pirate radio in 1984 and 1990, instigated Eurosiege '85 (the attempt in 1985 to starve Laser 558 and Radio Caroline off-air), and made it legal for the DTI to confiscate records and CDs used on a free radio station.
Again, Labour have not repealed any of the draconian anti-pirate legislation passed by the Tories. In addition, under New labour, we have seen ASBOs placed on pirate radio operators, and station operators sued for supposedly stealing listeners from ILR's.
So, who would I now rather see in power, the Tories or New Labour?
Why do two residential buildings and a rat-borne medieval disease spring to mind ...
Back in the 1990s, I made the mistake of defending the Labour party for their role in passing this piece of hated legislation. Now, after 10 years of having to live under a New Labour government, I find myself eating the words I said at the time. (Although even a large helping of sauce can't relieve the nasty taste in my mouth, from having once supported a party which has pissed on all our civil liberties - not just those of free radio fans).
One point I made at the time, however, I do stand by. The Tories have been no better, no kinder to free radio. Not only did they not repeal the MOA, they actually strengthened the laws against pirate radio in 1984 and 1990, instigated Eurosiege '85 (the attempt in 1985 to starve Laser 558 and Radio Caroline off-air), and made it legal for the DTI to confiscate records and CDs used on a free radio station.
Again, Labour have not repealed any of the draconian anti-pirate legislation passed by the Tories. In addition, under New labour, we have seen ASBOs placed on pirate radio operators, and station operators sued for supposedly stealing listeners from ILR's.
So, who would I now rather see in power, the Tories or New Labour?
Why do two residential buildings and a rat-borne medieval disease spring to mind ...
Labels: Marine Offences Act, MOA
posted by Anthony Karl Page at 3:38 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home