1 MAY 1976, Page 17

Dim Jim.

Sir: The Prime Minister may well be 'boorish and self-important' in not attending the Queen's birthday party (though no doubt the social loss was minimal), but the really worrying thing was the' excuse proffered—that 'he had to read himself in'. As readers of the Crossman diaries will know, the problem is that Jim, though shy, is dim.

Roland Fernsby The Lane House, Patmore Heath, Albury, Ware, Hertfordshire