21 MAY 1988, Page 22

Don't shoot

CASUALTY and beneficiary of the sterl- ing quarrel is the Chancellor's press secret- ary, who, after less than six months in the job, has been summarily promoted raised to the rank of Under-Secretary, and told to go away and look after the Com- mon Market. This seems to be the first example of a new and relatively civilised custom: promoting the messenger.