Summary
NEWS of the death of financial journalist-turned-PR Maurice Barnfather reminds City Spy of the crucial role he played in the Lord Archer alleged "insider dealing" controversy. Barnfather was PR to Lord Hollick and his company MAI.
On 8 July 1994, in a front-page lead, The Times revealed Archer, who was later exonerated, was being investigated by the DTI for possible insider dealing in the shares of Anglia TV, for which MAI was planning (and duly announced) a takeover bid. The DTI inspectors had been appointed in February 1994 but, as is usual, no word of the investigation had been mentioned. Reporter Martin Tomkinson was tipped off. But without confirmation from the DTI he was stuck. Tomkinson approached Barnfather, who persuaded the normally publicity-shy Hollick to issue a comment saying "MAI co-operated fully with the DTI inquiry". The DTI erroneously thought the paper had full details and they would look foolish denying it. So DTI boss Michael Heseltine agreed a statement that duly confirmed Archer's name, and The Times had its scoop. The next day, the DTI rang to acknowledge ruefully it had been "bounced" by Tomkinson -- a rare victory for the press against mandarins.See the full content of this document
Extract
News of the Death of Financial [Edition 2]
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