Peter Hardiman Scott (original) (raw)

Peter Hardiman Scott, who has died aged 79, was, in my view, the best political correspondent, and political editor, the BBC has had. He was friends with everybody, and on intimate terms, particularly over lunch, with the great political figures of his time, which spanned the governments of Macmillan, Home, Wilson and Heath.

His quiet, urgent, almost confidential tone in delivering the story inspired trust. His editors never told him what to say, and rarely knew what he was going to say before he was on the air. Often he did not see film requiring commentary until 10 minutes beforehand.

Though he positively disliked interviewing, his best, with Harold Macmillan on the outcome of the Denning report, was a model of its kind. He regretted an interview he did with Harold Wilson in the garden of Number Ten to announce a general election: compared with the treatment Robin Day had given Edward Heath, it looked a shade too deferential. But it was still a change from the era when Duncan Sandys turned up for an interview, and presented Peter with a list of questions. Sandys was extremely cross when Peter replied, a little nervously, "I'm sorry, but those aren't the questions I want to ask you."

Born Jack Hardiman Scott (though always known as Peter) in King's Lynn, from 1939 he worked for various provincial newspapers and Associated Press, making his first freelance broadcast in 1948. In 1950, he joined the BBC as assistant news editor in Birmingham. He then be came a general reporter in London with Radio Newsreel, during which time he reported the Anglo-French landings at Suez. In 1960, when parliament was covered by just three BBC men, Peter failed to apply for a post as parliamentary correspondent. He told Sir Hugh Greene, then director-general, that the true need was for a political correspondent to cover the news behind the scenes and in the lobbies - the job to which he was eventually appointed.

Peter held the post for 15 years, until Wilson's return to power. He had an engaging habit of rushing into the office at the last moment from the lobby, and when asked what the story was, would reply, "I don't know - until my typewriter tells me!" He was scrupulously fair; even so there were often complaints. Press colleagues resented him scooping stories the night before theirs were published. It changed the face of BBC journalism.

Peter loved scoops, and got them. In 1963 he tipped Sir Alec Douglas-Home to be leader. He broke the story that Anthony Crosland wanted to build an airport at Stansted. He predicted that Dick Crossman would put up charges on teeth and spectacles. He revealed (thanks to Crossman) that Wilson made Lord Hill chairman of the BBC to force Hugh Greene's resignation. Greene stayed.

And he had to face complaints from MPs to the Speaker, on more than one occasion, that since he had broadcast on the 8am news what a minister was about to announce, the minister should not make his intended statement. Once he had hardly finished a news broadcast from the tiny BBC studio than the light on the telephone flashed - it was Harold Wilson in 10 Downing Street, dressing him down for what he had just broadcast. "I said to him, 'prime minister, did you hear it?' And he said, 'Well, to be honest, no.'" So Peter read his script to him over the phone, and Wilson apologised, saying the reaction had come from a colleague, and agreed there was nothing to which he could take exception.

In retirement, Peter - a modest man - got on with other things; he never kept diaries, wrote memoirs, or even bothered to recall his triumphs. In his last five years at the BBC, he was an aide to directors-general, and played a major part in lobbying for, and enabling, the broadcasting of parliament.

Peter was a happy man, with a zest for life and a gift for friendship. He retired to his medieval Suffolk cottage, to enjoy his beautiful garden, his fine wines, and his splendid paintings - he collected mainly the Norwich School.

However, he couldn't stop writing, and produced in all four detective thrillers, one of which revealed a good deal about the security of No. 10. During his life he produced several books of poetry, mainly pastoral reflections on nature and the changing seasons. He was president of the Suffolk Poetry Society, and also produced a book on the love poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt.

He was twice married; he had two sons by his first wife, and is survived by his second wife, Sue.