Spectator's Notebook
IvE no doubt the Prime Minister found him- self pressed for time at the end of last week, but it's still a great pity that he didn't make the effort and get all the face-saving thank-you letters written and published at the appropriate moment. Mr. Selwyn Lloyd had his exchange, of course, but that was of a sharper nature. I'm glad that the Commons gave him a consolatory welcome, and I remembered then how very generously he behaved at the time of Mr. Thorneycroft's resig- nation. Mr. Lloyd is a likeable man. So is Mr. Harold Watkinson, who had an even rougher deal than Mr. Lloyd during the sackings. He had wanted to leave the Government for a long time to devote himself to his private interests. Six months ago he offered his resignation, but the Prime Minister, I believe, persuaded him to stay on at least until the autumn. He agreed with reluctance and tried to bring some of his major projects to the point before that time. In exchange for which he got the boot on Friday like every- body else. He may not be sad to lose the job, but l'd be surprised if he were saintly enough not to feel pretty sore about the boot.
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