5 OCTOBER 1996, Page 40

Honest opinion

Sir: Once a hack, always a hack. Lord Deedes suggests in his letter (28 Septem- ber) that my 'intemperate attack on Max Hastings relates . . . to some bruising encounter with him'. Sorry, wrong number, Deedes. Perhaps if I were English and a hypocrite. I am neither. Hastings has never done anything to me. I simply can't stand what he stands for. Perhaps if Deedes saw less of hypocritical English hacks he might get my drift.

Taki

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