B and K Well, for the time being we can't
change the Prime Minister. But there are two factors that make Wilson's behaviour worse than it would otherwise be. The first is the almost total absence ofiagreed ground rules for relations between the parties and the BBC, and for the permissible limits of political broadcasting. Until the existing conventions are codified and accepted by all sides, there will always be a temptation for a Prime Minister to engage in a free-for-all.
Second, there is the unfortunate effect of Mr Wilson's personal entourage, who reinforce his own half-acceptance of the conspiracy theory of history. Dr Thomas Balogh is a prime example of this, although he is by no means the only one. (It is, incidentally, grossly unfair that Mr Nicholas Kaldor. who is not a member of the entourage, should have become bracketed in the public's mind with Balogh. Kaldor is a delightful and civilised person, as well as being incom- parably the more distinguished economist.) It is the obsession of the entourage that the BBC, the press and the City are all in the grip of a sinister Tory conspiracy that will stop at nothing. It is only by the grace of God that we have so far escaped Bank rate-type tribunals into all three of them. If Mr Wilson wants to become a real states- man one day the first thing he should do is get rid of his whole entourage, lock stock, and barrel, and start afresh.
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