LETTERS
De haut en bas
From The Rt Hon. the Viscount Cranbome Sir: I always read your magazine's conspira- cy theories about the House of Lords with huge amusement. Even by the low stan- dards of Grub Street they are a miracle of inaccuracy. As a general rule it is better to read them and enjoy them, but not to react. However, the outpourings of Peter Oborne's perfervid imagination ('Ermine skulduggery', 20 November) bear even less relation to reality than usual.
If it is of any interest to you or Mr Oborne, I for one voted for, among others, Lord Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton, Lord Lind- say and Lord Liverpool. If I had been con- spiring to keep them out, even Mr Oborne might have expected me to choose three oth- ers. You might also be interested to learn that in the other ballot I also voted against the alleged Tory `slate' by backing both Lady Mar and Lord Strabolgi, among others.
As for the infamous party at Hatfield, the Association of Conservative Peers were looking for an affordable venue to hold a farewell party for the old House. My par- ents were only too happy to offer Hatfield. The ACP could have said `no'. After all, their executive committee numbers several members who disapproved of my deal.
Many journalists asked to come to the party, including some who write for you. When told we wanted to mourn in private, they expressed amazement that any event of importance would want to exclude the most powerful caste in the country. Mr Oborne was not among them, but I imagine that had he attended he would not have exhibited the sourness of the excluded.
Cranborne
The Manor House, Cranborne, Wimborne, Dorset
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