Respect for Rab
From Dr Bleddyn Jones Sir: Geoffrey Wheatcroft's stimulating article (`The end of the Etonians'. 17 January), which commemorated kin Macleod's Spectator account of the intriguing Home succession following Harold Macmillan's resignation, provides scope for much political speculation.
The appointment of R.A. Butler as prime minister instead of Alec DouglasHome would have had major consequences. Rab's popularity throughout the country, because of his education reforms, would probably have ensured victory at the next general election. He was generally trusted to a far greater extent than many bickering, career-oriented MPs in the Labour party, who effectively hampered Harold Wilson when in office. Butler would have obtained the now well-understood Blair effect of attracting votes from those in the middle ground of political persuasion. He would have fared less well than Wilson with the media, particularly when televised, but it would have been less easy, possibly bordering on cruelty, to apply sarcasm to Butler than to Home, as Wilson most effectively did. Wilson admired Butler and his achievements; this was amply demonstrated when Butler became Master of Trinity.
Bleddyn Jones
Kew, Surrey
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