Message: Obituary of Lord Howarth of Newport | Stephen Bates

In 1983, I had to conduct a studio debate between two New Conservative MPs on the death penalty for the BBC Midlands Today. Peter Bruenfels happily told Radio Leicester that he would be happy to play the executioner. For the opposing view, I eventually tracked down Alan Howarth.

After the debate at Broadcasting House, we shared a taxi back to the House of Commons. Bruinfels was so excited, he was jumping up and down in his seat as he recounted what he had told the radio station. There was an icy silence, and then Howarth said, looking at his long nose: “You know, Peter, if I were to be hanged, I think there’s no one I’d rather see on my last morning. You’re too cheerful about it…” Perhaps he was too sensitive about party politics.