High life
Party politics
Taki
New York
Roy Jenkins took time off and super- sonicked over last week, and Anthony Haden Guest threw a party for him. Now before anyone dismisses this as a practical joke, let me explain. Jenkins was over here, and Haden-Guest did throw a party for him, but needless to say the latter did not spend any money (in fact 1 suspect he came out a winner). AHG was fronting for the American European Community Associa- tion, a group that 1 suppose wants Roy Jenkins and his friends to be the next government of Great Britain. Needless to say, the members of the Association all live over here, which in a way makes sense. If the Spectator, my friends, Annabel's and my ancestral country seat — in that order — were not all in England I might be for Jenkins too. After all, he is one of the few so-called Social Democrats who likes women. The first time I saw him in the flesh he was dining with Lee Radziwill, Jackie KO's ambitious sister. It was in 1965, 1 believe. Lee had 10 Downing Street stars in her eyes but Roy was smarter than that. After a few innocuous weeks of socialising he saw what Onassis didn't in her sister and beat a hasty retreat. Now I hear Jenkins has lifted his sights above ambitious American ladies and hobnobs with sisters of rich dukes. I say well done. With a little more effort he might even make it with Mrs Thatcher, a lady who has a lot more in common with him. Like his accent. When I heard him speak I realised that he has managed to obliterate all giveaways of his miner's son
background. Henry Higgins himself would be taken in.
Unfortunately, the party did not live up to Roy's tastes. Englishmen who live in New York and believe that there is an alternative to Mrs Thatcher for Eng- land are a seedy group. No contrived dishevelment, just seediness. In fact Gully Wells turned and told me that one of the reasons she got out of England Was — and she pointed at the party — seedy people like these. My sainted editor's brother, John Chancellor, asked me whether I thought there was any possibility that the motley crew would contribute to Roy's campaign. For once I did not answer immediately but the sainted one's brother soon got the message. Having borrowed an outsize um- brella to go to the party, he found out ten minutes after he arrived that the brollie was gone.
The wine, too, left something to be desired. Even Jeffrey Bernard wouldn't have touched it. Nevertheless, Jenkins waited patiently while people formed a large conga line to meet him. He spoke, I believe, about unemployment and I was sorely tempted to interrupt him and tell him that the people at the party had already done their bit by removing themselves from the crowded isle. There were lots of jet- setters coming in and out of lavatories, the most nubile ones being Miranda Guinness and Jane Bonham-Carter. I like those two because they are at least honest. Whenever they feel a frisson of guilt about having spent too much time in expensive nightclubs they throw themselves with renewed vigour to the Social Democratic cause.
At dinner at Marietta Tree's afterwards, Jenkins gave a very good analysis of the state of British politics. I say very good because he conceded that Mrs Thatcher was going to win the next election. I purposely did not try to speak to Mr Jenkins. He is obviously a decent if misguided man, and weak. He and other weaklings like Callaghan and Healey — not to mention the ghastly Shirley Williams — allowed Gaitskell to be highjacked by the Nazi-Trotskyites. Now they want another chance. Their logic reminds me of the Greek architect who got a government contract for a public building, managed to siphon most of the money out for himself, and when the building collapsed injuring hundreds, beat the rap on a technicality. Later on he ap- plied for another government contract but was refused. That is when he charged the housing department with discrimination. He got a lot of mileage from the press because the Colonels were in power but he never got his contract. Similarly with the SDP. They got a lot of mileage from the hacks, but I hope that's all. England cannot afford another collapse.
Anyhow, Roy Jenkins should not mix in the filth of politics. David Owen and the Williams woman seem to be types who like the gutter. Let them do it, Roy. You were born to lead in a gentler age. if you ever want further advice I'll take you to the Mirabelle.
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