Page "Jeremy Paxman" Paragraph 6

On 13 May 1997 he spoke with Michael Howard in what became the programme's most notorious interview.

Howard, who had been Home Secretary until thirteen days earlier, had held a meeting with Derek Lewis, head of Her Majesty's Prison Service, about the possible dismissal of the governor of Parkhurst Prison, John Marriott.

Howard, having given evasive answers, was asked by Paxman the same question " Did you threaten to overrule him?

" a total of twelve times in succession ( 14 if the first two inquiries worded somewhat differently and some time before the succession of 12 are included ).

Howard did not give a direct answer, instead repeatedly saying that he " did not overrule him ", and ignoring the " threaten " part of the question.

Later, during a 20th anniversary edition of Newsnight, Paxman told Howard that he had simply been trying to prolong the interview since the next item in the running order wasn't ready.

In 2004 Paxman raised the subject again with Howard, by then leader of the Conservative Party.

This time, Howard laughed it off, saying that he had not threatened to overrule the head of the Prison Service.

Secret Home Office papers released in 2005 under the Freedom of Information Act failed to corroborate this.