Spectator's Notebook
THE' manonivrings around the empty chair of the Speaker have made quite a number 01 people look foolish regardless of the out- come. The activities of Mr. Peter Besse!l have lieen particularly comic. Not even the Tories 't the nadir of their leadership discontents ever Produced an MP who was prepared to 'announce' his leader's departure on the strength of flimsy rumour---then indicate his own willingness (sub- feet to certain conditions, of course) to step into the vacancy. The thought that one-tenth of his Parliamentary party could so embarrass him must have made Mr. Grimond wish, momentarily at bast, that he was indeed to be the next Speaker. doWever burdensome that office may be, it has 4 lonely dignity which is protective. Next week the Liberals meet for their annual Assembly at Scarborough. Usually the most in- teresting part, of the programme is Mr. Grimond's oration at the close of the proceedings. From one ,j,,; his such address I rem:either his promise to lead t r s troops 'towards the sound of gunfire.' . Perhaps he will repeat this next week with the addition of a promise to send Mr. Bessell ahead of the rest.
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