Corridors.
ROY JENKINS AND the Prime Minister were at Balliol together, and have been on first-name terms since then. Recently, Jenkins had occasion to write to the PM a rather critical note, containing a request. It was refused, and the refusal began, "Dear Jenkins.” Miffed, but amused, Roy put in the needle by writing again, beginning this time, "Dear Teddy." Since the PM is known to hate that ancient family abbreviation, full marks to Roy.
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE Puzzle wonders why Denis Healey is so bad as Shadow Chancellor. There are, it is said, three reasons. He is not interested in economics; and he has two tedious advisers, Robert Sheldon, the member for Ashton under Lyne, and Joel Barnett, member for Heywood and Royton. The precious pair are familiarly known as the Barnum and Bailey of the Healey circus.
JOLLY FAT CYRIL SMITH has become a great favourite, with everybody except Puzzle and those who know the newest Liberal member from his old Labour days. Three counts against him. First, when he wrote his Daily Mail attack on the House of Commons he had scarcely been in the place, save for his maiden speech: he prefers to spend his time with Mum in Rochdale.
MORE SERIOUS WAS Smith's behaviour towards Jack McCann, the late and lovable member for Rochdale. Smith had been McCann's agent, and knew him well. When he switched parties, Smith, despite knowing that McCann was a Labour whip, and thus debarred from speaking in the House, made a great parade among the ignorant electors of the fact that their member never appeared in Hansard. Then, when McCann was dying in hospital Smith pestered him with inquiries, and others with the complaint that Richdale was unrepresented. Puzzle's latest black mark to the unfeeling fatso
Tom Puzzle
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