Sunday 19 April 2009

Ray Collins

Once a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Company, Collins was for many years the peppery police lieutenant in the first, black-and-white, Perry Mason TV series. In fact, it looks as if the reason that the series ended in 1965 was that Collins died in that year.

It was a surprise, therefore to see him resurfacing as the general secretary of the Labour Party and implicated, by association, with the Draper/McBride black emails. Lt Tragg may occasionally have been economical with evidence to the defence, but he would never have been guilty of defaming his opposition. Kevin Maguire, on "Broadcasting House" this morning, was equally clear that the Red Rag dirty tricks started long after Collins' initial involvement. Mind you, Maguire, being inside the Brown tent, must be regarded as a friendly witness.

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