6 MARCH 1971, Page 6

First in public?

Sir Gerald Nabarro is an interesting and complex man and far from being the buf- foon he frequently makes himself appear to be. Dick Clements, editor of Tribune, and I went up to Newcastle to record, under Ludo Kennedy's benign chairmanship, an interview with him for Tyne-Tees Television. In the programme, which will go out on Monday, the conversation turned, inevitably, to the Common ' Market. Sir Gerald has made no secret of his views: he is opposed to entry unless a string of safeguards can be secured, and he knows that Geoffrey Rippon has no chance at all of bringing such safeguards back from Brussels. Would he therefore vote against the terms? Of course he would. Would he vote against the Government, even if it meant bringing the Government down? 'Yes, sir', he replied.

Relying upon my recollection, which is not the best of instruments, Sir Gerald is the first member of Parliament to have gone so far in public—although naturally many go as far privately—and, whether this is so or not, he certainly deserves credit for courage and honesty.