17 MARCH 1973, Page 7

Corridors. •1

CURIOUSER AND CUR1OUSER grow the efforts of the Tory establishment to frustrate the doings of Enoch. Powell, and for every uncertain victory there is a definite defeat. We know, of course, that there is a standing instruction to Central Office Area agents to prevent invitations being issued to Enoch wherever possible. And some of their machinations to this effect reveal a certain murky side to Tory politics.

A STORY HAS JUST BEEN printed to the effect that, under pressure from the Duke of Devonshire, who threatened to resign as their president, and deny them the use of his stately home for party functions, Chesterfield Conservative Association have withdrawn a speaking invitation to Enoch. Several odd points arise. First, the Duke's letter to Councillor Billinge, the chairman of the association, is dated February 13: the news of the withdrawal did not break until March 13. Second, Councillor Billinge did not write to Enoch until March 11. Third, the invitation has not yet been officially withdrawn (Billinge's letter to Enoch was informal) and cannot be so until the constituency executive meets. Fourth, Enoch had a letter on March 7 from Miss Petherick, head of the Speakers' Department at Central Office, saying that she understood that the Chesterfield Association "has found it necessary to cancel " the invitation (nice phrasing there) and that she assumed they had let him know, but that she was writing " just to be on the safe side." That looks to Puzzle, simple fellow that he is, both like an intrigue badly muddled, and like a deliberate and arrogant attempt on the part of the Party's paid servants to overrule the right of the association executive to make its own decisions. Dick Webster, the national agent, and hatchet man of Central Office, must operate more smoothly.

NOW FOR THE OTFIER MURKY BIT. In speaking to the press about l'affaire Enoch, Councillor Billinge explained that this was the first time the Duke had interefered in the association's affairs. He was not, Billinge explained, a very active president. Tut, tut, Councillor. Chesterfield has recently been engaged in the business of selecting a parlie-: mentary candidate. One supplicant was young man called Michael Farrow. Oil February 13 the Duke wrote to Billing6 discussing the business of selection. ,315t far as Mr Farrow is concerned," he sai4,T " I am certain that you did everything possible." Does that sound as though the Duke was lobbying for Farrow? It did to Puzzle. Bit the Duke added: "For your information I do not think he; is the right chap for a constituency like Chesterfield." Tortuous, don't you think?

HOWEVER, NOT ALL TORIES lie down under Pressure. Amid the beauties of Yorkshire there is Swinton Conservative College, now run by former Professor Esmond Wright, once MP for Glasgow Pollock. And Wright, despite the displeasure of his mas

ters, has invited Enoch to speak at an open conference on British politics next November.

Tom Puzzle.