THE RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL TRIBUTE PAGE 5

The Radio Northsea International Tribute Pages

An in-depth look at the story of Europes most popuar and controversial radio station.

Chapter 5 - Getting Political

In Britain, the Labour Government, headed by Harold Wilson, called a General Election, to be held on June 18th, 1970.
In an unprecidented move, five days prior to election day, RNI dramatically changed its' name to Radio Caroline, launching a propagada campaign in support of the Conservative party. The hope being that a change of government might bring about the end of jamming of the medium wave signal. Listeners were told that their freedom to listen to the radio station of their choice was under threat. If the Labour party were returned to power then the station would close. Therefore, they should vote "Tory", the only party that supported commercial radio.

Hyde Park rally, 14.6.1970
A campaign bus toured key marginal constituencies. A rally was held on Sunday, June 14th, was held in Hyde Park where an estimated 10,000 supporters heard speeches from David Prewett Chair of the Campaign For Independant Broadcasting, and Radio Caroline boss Ronan O'Rahilly. Following the rally, a march to number 10 Downing Street, headed by Ronan O'Rahilly, Carolines' first ever dj Simon Dee, film star George Lazenby, and many other prominent free radio personalities.

On board the Mebo 2, djs continued to broadcast announcements in support of the Conservative Party, and played a jingle based on the theme song from BBC tvs'comedey series -" Dads' Army ":

Message for Harold. . .

"Who do you think you are kidding Mr Wilson ?
If you think free radio's down.
We are the boys who will stop your little game,
We are the boys who will make you think again.
So, who do you think you are kidding, Mr Wilson
If you think free radio's down".

On the 17th June, the jamming of RNI was greatly increased when a much more powerful signal was put out from a radar station in Essex. The former World War II RAF base at Canewdon was patrolled by security guards with dogs. The guards were believed to be armed! Radio and television reception was seriously disrupted over a wide area as a result.

In an official statement from RNIs' headquarters in Zurich, the station said:

"The future of Radio North Sea lies in the outcome of the General Election. The Labour Government is opposed to free radio, and if it is returned to office, Radio North Sea will have no alternative but to go off the air, completely and definately".

Station programme director Larry Tremaine said:
"RNI never intended to be politically biased in any way, but at the moment we have no alternative. We have to make the truth clear to protect ourselves, and our future. We cannot continue under the jamming signal forever".
It's interesting to note that not even in times of war has a British government resorted to jamming radio signals to further it's own objectives. In many peoples' minds however, it raised a very intriguing question:
" Just what did the British Authorities have to fear from a pop pirate station ?"
Was it the fact that there were powerful short-wave transmitters on board, capable of reaching almost every country in the world ? Or was it possibly, something to do with the ship's ownership? Or perhaps the owners other business intrests and activities ? Allegations involving espionage ? Rumours of a Lybian interest ? - Or could the whole thing have been just a front for something far more sinister ?
We may never know. . .

Needless to say, the Conservative Party won the election, and took up office. Just what influence, if any, the radio campaign had on the result will never be known, but it is perhaps worth noting that the outgoing Labour party had, during its' term of office lowered the minimum voting age, and that 1970 was the first year that people of 18 years of age were given the right to vote.