15 FEBRUARY 1992, Page 28

Not at all boring

Sir: Hugh Massingberd's article (`AI! the Queen's men', 1 February) calls Harold Laski a 'doctrinaire Socialist bore'. I sat at Laski's feet for three years after the war a posture I would find difficult these days, even if he were still alive — and can tell you this description of him is quite false. He was certainly not doctrinaire and very far from boring. Indeed Mr Massingberd would not have quoted him at such length had that been the case.

I even doubt that he was a Socialist, despite his leadership of the Labour Party. Had he not been pushed to an early death by the strain of a libel suit, I think he might have let his great intellect swing him to a sensible, right-wing position.

R. C. Shaw

23 Lower Belgrave Street, London SW1