Anthony Wedgwood Benn speaks in 1966 on pirates

The faces of two parliamentarians are principally associated with the demise of offshore pirate radio in the 1960s. One was Prime Minister, Harold Wilson; the second, Tony Benn - then Sir Anthony Wedgwood-Benn and one of the last holders of the office of Postmaster General, which had existed since 1661.

An earlier Postmaster General, Reginald Bevins, had asserted that Radio Caroline was causing interference in 1964, but it was left to Tony Benn to assemble the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967, and his successor Edward Short to introduce it to Parliament. This legislation outlawed advertising on, or supplying an unlicensed offshore radio station from the UK. It was a law designed to close the loophole which had allowed British subjects to get involved in stations outside territorial waters and to broadcast to the UK.

On this audio, Tony Benn summarised his case with the energy and conviction which has become his trademark.