Corridors . . .
THE EXCUSES FOR the Government's ' U ' turns are endless. The latest, Puzzle hears, is the Prime Minister going round saying gloomily, "Capitalism has failed." What price our Teddy as next President of the National Union of Students?
ON THE OTHER HAND, it is equally widely being said that Tony Barber believes capitalism has never been given a chance, and reckons that next year some time he can begin the return to a free market economy. Well, Puzzle will wait and see.
RUMOUR HAS IT, TOO, that Harold Wilson intends shortly to appoint a new front bench spokesman — for defence. He feels that poor Fred Peart has too much to do, doubling up on military matters and agriculture. Harold's intention, it is said, is to move Peter Shore to defence. Shore's not altogether happy at the prospect: the defence portfolio is sure ultimate political death for any man who wants to lead the Labour Party.
COLONEL CAROL MATHER is being either subtle or shy in his bring back capital punishment campaign — which, so far has been a remarkably impressive affair, foundered though it has on the opposition of both the Prime Minister and Mr Powell to the idea (the only thing on which they are agreed). The dashing Colonel is very evasive indeed about what method he would use for bumping off killers. It's not so long, however, since he was very much and openly in favour of the rope. But it seems that, after Jonathan Gainness's razor blades, Tories fight shy of open identification with any particular method of execution.
Tom Puzzle
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