Face-to-face with Meacher

Minister Michael Meacher may have been able to avoid questions about his leaked anti-bike letter on the BBC’s Any Questions radio show, but he couldn’t avoid MCN.

Meacher was in Peterborough on Friday night for the Radio Four show and we had hoped he would be forced to answer questions surrounding his infamous letter. It reads as if he seriously considered banning bikes from National Parks and areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. That has sparked a storm of controversy. More than 2000 riders have signed up to join a mass protest about it.

But while questions weren’t raised on air, MCN was at the show to put the Minister on the spot.

He told MCN he still believes we (and that means all of you, too) were wrong to interpret his letter in the way we have, but finally accepted that the wording of it might have been unfortunate.

You can read our full exclusive interview with Michael Meacher in MCN, out on Wednesday, March 6, 2002.

In the meantime, take a look at Mr Meacher’s original letter, and the original denial, by following the link right.

Have we really misinterpreted anything? Have your say by posting on our Talk News board in Discussion and Chat (see the other link, right).