17 MAY 1957, Page 8

WHETHER IT IS because the actors have had too long

to rehearse their parts, or whether it is because Lord Russell of Liverpool has joined in with one of his regular changes of party, or whether it is merely because of the quality of the play itself, it is difficult to regard the Conservative revolt over the Government Suez announcement as having much to do with politics. It seems almost to be an event in the Social Season, a pleasant prelude to the Derby and the 4th of June. Lady Salisbury caught the mood perfectly. After touching lightly on Suez ('bad business') to Mr. William Hickey, of the Daily Express, at a party at her house, she went on to discuss her signed photographs of the Royal Family. The Evening Standard was better still. Underneath a picture on its front page it wrote : 'Four of the Tory rebel MPs enjoy a joke together as they discuss the Suez situation. They are Anthony Fell, Paul Williams, Patrick Maitland and Sir Victor Raikes and they, are seen at the home of Lord Hinching- brooke, another rebel.' They might have been four debutantes photographed by The Taller at a hunt ball.