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When Ted Heath called in at New Delhi a year ago, on his way to the Singapore conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, he had a furious row with Indira Gandhi about the supply of arms to South Africa. The row cleared the air, and after it they got on famously, so much so that Mrs Gandhi was criticised at Singapore for being soft on Ted. Not long afterwards, at a Party gathering in London, Sir Alec said, in Ted's presence and to his apparent pleasure, that the way to bring India back into the fold and at the same time to improve Ted's image all round, would be for Ted to marry the widowed Indira.
Peter Walker, Environment Minister, has agreed to gravely consider the threat to the environment caused by the indestructible plastic milk bottle. No doubt you have been greatly heartened by the way that major oil companies employ an ecologist to reassure all and sundry that they may paddle off Brighton in safety. Well, someone who ought to know tells me that these tame ecologists are employed not to protect the environment but to explain away in scientific gobbledygook what the oily kings are up to. He claims that you will usually find them in the press department with all these reformed Journalists who are now dedicated to stopping stories getting out.
Andrew Faulds, the Labour member for Smethwick, brought in a private members bill which had to do with improving woman's lot. Anxious for all-party support, he. was delighted when Tory Sally Oppenhelm, member for Gloucester, agreed to sign her name on the list of supporters. The next day Faulds came up to glamorous Sally and, abashed, asked her to withdraw her name. The reason? Strapping Joan Lestor, Labour member for Eton and Slough, refused to have her name on the same list as that woman from Gloucester. Its a pity that Mr George Best did not build that luxury house which he must now perforce vacate near the Palace of Westminster, for there is a rich seam to be Worked for the potential landlord. Under the new London allowances offered to MPs they can only draw the maximum allowance of £750 a year if they spend it. This means that many a landlady will see her distinguished lodger depart for the delights of Dolphin Square. That is the good part of the news, Now for the bad.
IVIPs' wives will visit them ten times a year.
Tom Puzzle
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