2 OCTOBER 1964, Page 6

A Participant's Notebook

every question, for example, on the experience of his Shadow Cabinet he will reply, 'Let me , first say that many of us were negotiating (and, may I add, not without success) with America . . . and Russia . . . long before Mr. Maud- ling, Mr. Heath, Mr. Macleod, Sir Keith Josephs' and the rest were even Members of Parliament.' He means, of course, himself. In fact, he is by;' far the most experienced member' of his team and yet he has only held one office in the Cabinet. He has less experience of high office than any leader of the Tory or Labour Parties with the single exception of Ramsay MacDonald.