19 OCTOBER 1996, Page 38

In praise of Jeremy

Sir: I am so glad that you printed an article denouncing the vicious attack by two jour- nalists on Jeremy Thorpe (No new insight', 12 October). I always think of him as the best public speaker I have known, though I was never a colleague of his in the House of Commons. I once spoke with him in the Oxford Union, and for the only time in my life I wished I had not gone to speak. He had swept the audience away. I called on him recently and, as is well known, found him suffering from severe Parkinson's dis- ease. But his mind was as bright as ever and he and his devoted wife provided me with a memorable example of noble suffering.

Longford

House of Lords, London SW1