The 'rebels' continued, from within the council, to campaign for a government enquiry into the GMC’s activities but were always voted down. The BMA tried unsuccessfully to negotiate compromise solutions. Doctors in hospitals around the country held protest meetings at which the GMC foolishly declined to be represented and BBC Television's Panorama devoted an edition to exploring the dispute. "The Daily Telegraph" ran articles supporting the dissidents and "The Times" published an editorial headed 'Clapping Rebel Doctors in Irons'. Un-dissuaded, the GMC voted in November 1972 to 'strike off' all doctors who withheld their ARF. It refused to reveal the number who had refused to pay — rumours suggested 8,000 to 10,000 — but, faced by the prospect of the NHS losing the services of a large number of doctors, the Secretary of State, Sir Keith Joseph set up the enquiry the 'rebels' had asked for, appointing as chairman Dr (later Sir) Alec Merrison.