Sir: I have only just seen Geoffrey Wheat- croft's observations
about Michael Hesel- tine, and I think a reply is badly needed. To suggest that the former Secretary of State does not have an interesting and highly original mind is, I can assure you from my own extensive experience serving him in government, plain silly.
Inter alia he was the first and only Secretary of State I met in 13 years who took a consistent properly professional interest in the management of his depart- ment and hence the implementation and delivery of policies. The above is a gaping hole in the average politician's armoury.
Neither did Mr Hese!tine lack policy ideas, ranging from strategy to highly technical details tackled whole-heartedly, calculator in hand; also unusual in senior ministerial circles. Also, Mr Heseltine was always seeking junior people who knew the facts rather than relying on fourth hand senior vested wisdoms.
LETTERS
I hold no brief for his politics but he achieved a lot, inspired great loyalty and, perhaps most of all, we knew he would fight for anything of which he had been persuaded. That matters to the slaves at the oar, whatever the policy.
Thoughtful, radical, considerate to offi- cials, tough and decisive: that is my idea of a Secretary of State, or even a PM in waiting.
P.S. Wilde
33 Park Road, London N8
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