1 JUNE 1962, Page 6

Who's for Hemlock?

Mr. Maurice Edelman's suggestion of a parallel between the condemnations of Bertrand Russell and Socrates is rich in power to start trains of thought—not the least being a savouring of the notion that expulsion from the Labour Party is some sort of death sentence. But what struck me most in his query, 'Who remembers Socrates' judges?,' is that these were, of course, the people of Athens. Trust a Left-winger to consign such low fellows to oblivion.