ROY JENKINS for once, not Harold Wilson, has capped the
PM's reshuffle by resigning along with Harold Lever and George Thomson from the Labour Shadow Cabinet because they didn't like the way things were going. Harold Lever will be missed.
THERE WILL have to be some new elections, I suppose. Big Jim Callaghan lets it be known that he will not be standing for the deputy leadership, which leaves Tony Berm, I suppose, to dispute it with fellow anti-marketeer Michael Foot.
I PRESUME that, as the runners-up in the poll which elected the Shadow Cabinet. Reg Prentice and John Silkin, will effortlessly move up. But what should another vacancy occur? Dread chance, for next in line, dead-heating, come Eric Helfer and Barbara Castle. Ladies first?
NOW THAT Mr Powell has come further into the open in attacking Mr. Heath, memories are being revived of the fury the Wolverhampton Member used to raise in the PM. When Mr Heath finally decided to speech he instructed 'hsodbcik a 'ilfhe" s sack him after his "rivers of blood" speech he instructed his staff to contact Mr Powell by telephone in Wolverhampton. The operator refused to put the call through since Mr Powell was ex-directory and, incredibly enough, Mr Heath's staff did not know the number. Eventually the then leader of the Opposition seized the phone, told the operator who he was, and insisted on being connected. Reluctantly the operator obliged and when Mr Powell answered he was greeted with the words, "Enoch, you're sacked." Mr. Powell said "Why?" Mr Heath said "Goodnight."
STRANGE how the youthful talent on the Conservative backbtnches has been christened the 'Young Turks.' In Mr Wilson's day there were the 'Young Eagles' who swooped to the defence of Mr Wilson. Alas, some such as Mr Donald Dewar and Mr Roy Roebuck are now gobbling about looking for a seat, and at least one of Mr Wilson's eagles, Mr John Mackintosh, has become a vulture. Perhaps Mr Heath's bright young chaps should be called the Young Turkeys so they clearly understand who is there for the roasting.
MANY an Under-Secretary must gaze ruefully at the the way some backbenchers have bounced up to Minister of State level, none more so than the two at the Scottish office, Mr George Younger and Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith. Both have been outstanding performers but neither could be promoted because there are no obvious replacements among Scots Tories. Why not draft an English Tory with Scottish connections north of the Border? Of course, there would be an outcry from the Scottish press but it would be an excellent thing since those troublesome North Britons are forever proclaiming that they really run things in England.
1/1V ATrATy■ Ird)j Tom Puzzle
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