Thank you, Harold...

In 1989, Denise Searle [Red Pepper’s first editor] and I, with others from the Socialist Movement, wrote to a large number of well-known left-wing dignitaries asking them to support a new fortnightly newspaper called Socialist. Harold Pinter was one of the few who responded.

He did not know us. We were not friends of friends. We were chatterers but not part of the well-known chattering classes. We promised simply to look at the facts without fear; to encourage the self-confidence to resist injustice; to imagine, create and work for alternatives.

Harold gave us his support. He also gave us confidence and his example encouraged others. From this I learnt that one of Harold Pinter’s distinguishing marks is his courage. His courage to speak out against the powerful. He doesn’t wait to find out who else might be supporting a cause. He doesn’t wait to find out whether it’s fashionable. Harold supports something because he believes in it. More...

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