LETTERS Sound and fury
Sir: I read Paul Johnson's piece (And another thing, 3 May) on the morning of 2 May and had to smile; so much sound and fury indicating only a burnt-out intellect.
He says I am a 'bad man'. I know only a fraction of what went on in the Tory ranks during the greedy Eighties but I told what I knew in the public interest. With four British children of my own, I wanted to help clean up political life. For the same reason, I have provided financial support to the fledgling People's Trust which will be a check on the excesses of any government, starting with the new one.
No, what is bad is for Paul Johnson to use his privileged place in your pages to defend the indefensible Neil Hamilton, who does not deserve it. The people of Tat- ton showed whether they believe me or Mr Hamilton and, by inference, Mr Johnson.
There is much that is wrong in his article, but let me correct one cynical error. It is not true that I led Peter Preston into send- ing the 'cod fax'. As Mr Johnson knows very well, Mr Preston has made it clear that it was his idea. He was attempting to pro- tect his source, me, though I would have given him the documents he needed despite the personal and commercial risks to me. If he can no longer tell right from wrong, Mr Johnson has not just lost his marbles, he is ready for the basket-weaving class.
M Al Fayed
Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1
Paul Johnson writes: Mr Fayed's abuse speaks for itself. He is wrong about the forged letter. He is wrong about my 'defence' of Mr Hamilton, which was prompted entirely by outrage at a flagrant abuse of press power.
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