Yesterday I revealed that Spectator magazine had hastily cancelled its screening of the film House of Numbers.

In the spirit of openness and transparency that they constantly demand of others, the Spectator abruptly deleted the event page off their website (see the Google cache) and remained very quiet about it on their blog.

No mention of the cancelled debate and no explanation. Complete silence. Although you can still watch the video on the ‘AIDS debate’ on their website.

Last night I emailed its editor Fraser Nelson with the following questions:

Do you regret hosting the screening of the film?

Should the Spectator really be giving space to films that have been contradicted with so much evidence? Isn’t this reminiscent of the MMR stuff? I’m just curious as to what prompted you guys to screen the film.

No response at all.

It’s also worth noting that a few years ago The Spectator published an essay titled: ‘AIDS denial costs lives‘. Perhaps they should read their own magazine? (via gimplyblog)

And when exactly did this event fall apart? When I called the Spectator they said the participants had pulled out “at the last moment” and would not reveal who had done so.

But a Tweet by the writer Alastair Harper reveals that Rt. Hon. Lord Norman Fowler (former UK Secretary of State for Health) had pulled out several days earlier.

According to another series of (unverifiable) Tweets, Joe Sonnabend was planning to attend and denounce the film until the last minute, and Professor Beverly Griffin had also pulled out.

None of this can be confirmed of course because The Spectator are keeping very quiet, while trying to quietly erase any mention of the event on their website.

How long is that going to go on for?

If they’re going to take a brave stand against the consensus, surely we can expect them to have the courage of their convictions and admit it when things go awry?

· About the author: Sunny Hundal is editor of Liberal Conspiracy. He works full time as a journalist, commentator, blogger, activist and general layabout. He was voted Guardian blogger of the year in 2006. Also at: Pickled Politics, on Twitter and Comment is free.

· Other posts by Sunny H

· Filed under: Blog , Health , Humour , Media

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1. sunny hundal
   

   Spectator magazine tries to airbrush out its AIDS denialism screening event: http://bit.ly/1OdS9O (@bengoldacre )

   [Original tweet]

2. sunny hundal
   

   Plus, why is the MSM so silent over Spectator mag pushing and failing on AIDS denialism? http://bit.ly/1OdS9O

   [Original tweet]

3. Prateek Buch
   

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   [Original tweet]

4. Sunder Katwala
   

   RT @pickledpolitics why is the MSM so silent over Spectator mag cancelling AIDS denialism event? http://bit.ly/1OdS9O

5. sunny hundal
   

   Spectator magazine tries to airbrush out its AIDS denialism screening event: http://bit.ly/1OdS9O (@bengoldacre )

6. sunny hundal
   

   Plus, why is the MSM so silent over Spectator mag pushing and failing on AIDS denialism? http://bit.ly/1OdS9O

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8. Prateek Buch
   

   RT @libcon Spectator tries to airbrush out AIDS denialism screening http://bit.ly/4GgyxY

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