From Mr Colin Byrne Sir: Can I be the first
to send a letter of thanks to Peter Oborne for mentioning me in his column on people who did not send him letters of thanks for being taken out to lunch by him. To quote Humphrey Bogart on manners, I grieve about them on long winter evenings. It would of course be equally bad manners to reveal that the sole purpose of his lunch with me was to moan that the most senior people around the Prime Minister did not take him seriously, and that they should realise that, given the right encouragement, he could be incredi- bly useful to New Labour.
Yours, with thanks for the name-check in such prestigious company,
Colin Byrne
Chief Executive, Shandwick Public Affairs, London EC4
From Mr David Foster Sir: Peter Oborne's article made depressing reading. He reveals that of the politicians among the many he expensively lunched or dined, only one of 17 socialists and only seven of the 18 Tories wrote to thank him. Many of his other guests were just as lack- ing in common courtesy. It would be inter- esting if he could also provide a breakdown not by political persuasion but by whether they were educated at their family's or the taxpayer's expense.
David Foster
Ludlow, Shropshire
From Mr Jonathan Oliver Sir: I was interested to read Peter Oborne's article on the bad manners of public figures who have failed to write to thank him for taking them out to lunch. I couldn't help recalling a press-gallery lunch at the House of Commons a few weeks ago when Peter came as my guest to hear a speech by Alas- tair Campbell.
How unfortunate that Peter's letter of thanks to me was clearly one of the first vic- tims of the delays in the Christmas post. I live in hope.
Jonathan Oliver
The Mail on Sunday, London W8
From Mr Jim Poston Sir: How many of Mr Oborne's lunch guests have received 'a prompt and cour- teous handwritten note of thanks' for giving up their hard-pressed time to give him untrammelled, private access, allowing him to add to his working capital (knowledge) and therefore plausibility and market value, at his employer's expense?
Jim Poston
jimposton@ftnetwork.com
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