Allusions and anecdotes
Sir: There is a maddening tendency among columnists to show the breadth of their read- ing by bringing in allusions to subjects other than those about which they are writing. I refer to Robin Oakley's column (Arts, 9 Jan- uary). Mr Oaldey at least has the excuse that he is the BBC's political editor for dragging in a venerable anecdote, alleged to be about lain Macleod, describing a loud suit worn by the chairman at the National Hunt Race event at its New Year meeting at Chel- tenham. The anecdote is a good one, worth repeating yet again: Iain Macleod's first speech in the Commons which was described by an opponent as 'not just a maiden speech, more a brazen hussy of a speech'.
A warning bell would have sounded in Mr Oakley's ear if he had known the final sen- tence: 'Never did such a painted lady of a speech parade itself before a modest parlia- ment.' It is curious, for a political editor, to imagine that this story could possibly refer to Macleod, best remembered as a rumbus- tious bruiser in debate, with no feminine attributes; a character well known as a one- time editor of The Spectator. The real hero of this story was A.P. Herbert, the humor- ous essayist who became Independent MP for Oxford University when there were such seats. Herbert was not a politician who else would have put in his election address: 'Agriculture; I know nothing about agriculture.'
The opponent (he had no opponent) was a friend — Churchill. The occasion was a complaint that Baldwin was cutting down the parliamentary time for Private Mem- bers' bills (of which Herbert had several non-political ones in his locker).
It is sad that the memory of such a remarkable individualist should have faded so quickly. I daresay in this case it never existed.
Hartwell
36 Broadway, London SW1
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