Portrait of the Week
The second round of French National Assembly elections confirmed an overall win for M Mitterrand's Socialist Party. However M Mitterrand decided to appoint four Communists to his Cabinet just the same. In Britain, Mrs Thatcher was said to have routed the 'wets' in her Cabinet at a meeting to discuss economic policy which confirmed the Government's broad strategy of giving priority to reducing inflation. Inflation hit a two-year low of 11 per cent and living standards were revealed to have fallen slightly in April, which was hailed as good news for the Government.
Mrs Thatcher was said to have spoken severely to the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Zenko Suzuki, on the subject of our adverse trade balance with Japan. The Russians were said to be highly displeased to learn that America was tracking their missile tests from observation posts in Chinese territory, and The Times warned the US against further provocations of this sort. In Iran, President Bani-Sadr went missing before the start of impeachment proceedings against him in the Majlis. Fifteen people were reported dead in riots as religious enthusiasts announced: 'The gallows awaits Bani-Sadr.'
The Irish Roman Catholic hierarchy finally produced a statement condemning the use of suicide as a political weapon. On a visit to New York, the Prince of Wales was met by hostile Irish American demonstrators. He was insulted by the Jewish Mayor, Ed Koch, and the Italian Deputy State Governor, Mario Cuomo, both of whom appeared to favour the Irish Nationalist cause in the six counties as their own elections approached.
Lady Diana Spencer stole all hearts at Royal Ascot. The Clay Cross representatives on NE Derbyshire District Council decided they would not fly a red flag on 29 July after angry protests in the district. Prince Andrew celebrated his 21st birthday with a rout at Windsor Castle. Among other weekend riots, a black youth was stabbed to death in Lambeth after 500 rioting black youths had looted shops and broken windows.
Warrington Labour Party chose Mr Douglas Hoyle, a veteran ASTMS left-winger, to oppose Roy Jenkins. Mr Robert Taylor, the Conservative member for Croydon, died, leaving the Social Democrats in a quandary about whether to fight this Tory marginal or not. They had promised the next by-election to the Liberal Party, unopposed, and Mrs Shirley Williams, the new party's super-star, had announced she would not be ready to fight a by-election for several months when Warrington was on offer. However, she later said she would like to stand for Croydon in the autumn. A Sunday Times MORI poll claimed that Mr Healey had twice the support of Mr Benn among Labour voters, but the Yorkshire miners opted for Mr Benn.
Among the week's invalids, Mr Moss Evans missed the annual conference of the Transport and General Workers' Union suffering from ulcer complications, and Sir Keith Joseph announced that he would be undergoing surgery for a hernia. The Pope went back to hospital with a suspected lung infection. Pamela Hansford Johnson, the novelist widow of Lord Snow, died, as did Mr Cecil Bernstein of the Granada dynasty.
Sir Charles Forte dropped his bid for the Savoy group of hotels amid sounds of mutual recrimination. Gunmen in Newry, County Down, murdered their hundredth RUC constable since the troubles resumed 13 years ago. Sir William Rees-Mogg (whom God preserve) was chosen as vice-chairman of the BBC to succeed Mr Mark Bonham Carter, the race expert and former Liberal candidate.
Wimbledon opened with record crowds for a memorable display of temperament from John McEnroe who abused the umpire and was fined £750. Illie Nastase was beaten on the first day but 14-year-old Kathy Rinaldi stayed in. Mr Norman Fowler announced 31,000 jobs as the price of electrifying the railway, the Sunday Telegraph lost its appeal against a £50,000 libel award to Mr Jack Hayward, the Bahamas businessman, and Mr Mark Chapman received a message from God to plead guilty to the murder of John Lennon. AAW
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