Murder is not a party game
Sir: What a 'sour puss' paper the SPECTATOR is (20 December) for the week covering Christmas! Few of your able contributors are guilty, though I note with sorrow that my friend Auberon Waugh almost gleefully, uses the word 'feline' in his uncharitable references to Barbara Castle.
One almost felt after reading your leader about hanging that had the retentionists had their way, you like others, who invite the worst of both worlds by postponing a de- cision and making abolition. or otherwise, a party issue—while denying that you want this—should have been given a front seat at the public execution televised in colour so cleverly suggested by J. W. M. Thompson as a possible cure for doubters and hangers. He might have suggested asking along floggers too, whether wearing their flowered hats or not, if the use of a cat-o'-nine-tails, as a prelude to his death, could have been administered beforehand to the victim. You would indeed be in good company!
Christmas is a time for cheerfulness and goodwill, and it is sad to find you failing to reflect a traditional Conservative attitude. In wishing you a less dismal New Year than you probably anticipate under a Govern- ment which despite great difficulties has done more than most to keep Britain true to her great and liberal traditions. may I hope that when it belatedly dawns on you that our financial and economic position is stronger now than at any time since the war, you will admit this fact, give credit where it is due to a very able Cabinet, and do your best to ensure that if the worst befall, and a Heath regime ever takes over, we remain a humane and civilised society of order and progress. The problems you would face in that eventuality would in view of today's indicators be almost insuper- able.
Mr Skeffington-Lodge is misinformed about many things, including the date of Christ- mas. Our issue to which he refers was for the week ending Saturday, 20 December— Editor, SPECTATOR.
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