Insight with Martin Bell – On Politics, Spin, Wars and Journalism

Martin Bell, maverick politician and one of the most distinguished foreign affairs reporters of his generation, talks about New Labour, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and spin.

Bell was among the first modern journalists to make his name as a dedicated war correspondent. In 1997 he was elected to parliament as an independent after he campaigned on an anti-sleaze ticket.

As a journalist Bell has reported from 80 countries and covered 11 conflicts. His assignments included wars in the Middle East, Nigeria, Angola and Rwanda, as well as the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Winner of the Royal Television Society’s Reporter of the Year award in 1977, and again in 1993, he was awarded an OBE in 1992.

In his recent book The Truth That Sticks: New Labour’s Breach of Trust Bell attacks the decision to go to war in Iraq, and questions the deployment in Afghanistan.

Moderated by Raymond Snoddy – presenter of the BBC’s NewsWatch programme and a freelance journalist for The Independent and other publication.