April 1970: Labour Prime Minister speaks out against South African cricket tour
Historically its quite rare for a Labour Prime Minister to speak out in favour of demonstrations but Harold Wilson did it 50 years ago in respect of the proposed South African cricket tour of England that year.
It was ultimately cancelled, more it must be said due to the efforts of grassroots protesters than anything.
In April, Harold Wilson, the prime minister, told the BBC that the MCC had made “a big mistake” in allowing the tour to take place. “Everyone should be free to demonstrate against apartheid,” he said. “I hope people will feel free to do so.” (ESPN)
it is equally clear from the interpretation in the newspapers over the weekend, before it, and this morning that the Prime Minister’s words can be interpreted as a direct encouragement to lawlessness. Stephen Hastings, House of Commons 20th April 1970(Hastings was a Tory MP for Mid-Bedfordshire with a security services and Southern African background https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hastings)
This year will see several accounts of the campaign:
Apartheid is not a game,Christian Hogsbjerg & Geoff Brown (Red Words)
https://bookmarksbookshop.co.uk/view/49651/Apartheid+is+not+a+Game
Pitch Battles: Peter Hain, Andre Odenaal
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781786615237/Pitch-Battles-Protest-Prejudice-and-Play
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