Spectator's Notebook
MANN' political commentators, and especially the BBC, made a meal out of the reluctance of Tory MPs to follow Mr. Wilson in the 'broken promises' censure debate. True, the Prime Minis- ter made his best speech of the session, but there was a much simpler and (1 would have thought, with respect) more obvious explanation for the immediate exodus of virtually the whole of the Tory party. Orders of the Day, because of the announcements of next week's business, always start late on a Thursday. Then there followed the statement on the Territorial Army by Mr. Healey, and a flood of questions on it. Mr. Barber did not rise to open the Opposition attack until 4.15 p.m. He spoke for thirty-seven minutes. Mr. Wilson took no less than fifty-eight minutes. By then it was 5.52, and at 6 p.m. Mr. Heath was to make hiS first appearance at the 1922 Committee. No Tory wanted to be called early in the debate, and so miss hearing their new leader. There was very nearly an abrupt end to the debate. I've seen it happen for similar reasons and to both sides on half a dozen occa- sions. after good. moderate and downright bad
speeches. The chair and some valiant sacrificial Iamb (on this occasion Dr. King and Dame Joan Vickers) always save the day.
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