The Party’s Over
March 23, 2009 by David Torrance
A fascinating article in yesterday’s Observer magazine by Roy Hattersley, remembering the downfall of James Callaghan’s government 30 years ago this week. Although Hattersley is always an entertaining writer, his memory often fails him. For example, he recounts the following story:
“Plaid Cymru was safe and solid in its support. But the Scottish National party had declared political independence from the government. On the evening that their decision was announced, Donald Stewart, their genial leader, had argued with me on radio about the wisdom of trying to bring the government down. After the broadcast was over, he had bet me £5 that, in the general election which he hoped to bring about, his party would double its number of seats. Being a man of honour, he paid up within 24 hours of polling day. But he had to send my winnings through the post. Like every other SNP candidate, he had been defeated.”
Perhaps Donald Stewart did have to send Hattersley’s winnings through the post, but not because he lost his seat. In fact, Stewart remained the Western Isles’ representative in Parliament until 1987, as did Gordon Wilson in Dundee.
Today’s Observer ran a rather pedantic letter from me correcting Hattersley’s mistake…
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