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The Tory Succession: A London Letter
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CALIGULA made his horse a Consul; Mr. Macmillan has made Lord Home-or Sir Alexander Douglas-Home, as he is hence- forth to be known-Prime Minister. That, more or less, sums up the reaction of the more cynical commentators to the surprising outcome of our latest political upheaval. The joke is perhaps getting a little stale, but it will do for an occasion so heavily flavored with traditionalism. No doubt we shall also be hearing the other one, about the empty taxi that drew up in front of No. 10 Downing Street-”and then the Prime Minister got out.” (This one was originally coined during the Attlee administration.)
Speaking of horses, a Tory newspaper normally loyal to the party recalls the story of the pre-1914 cavalry lieutenant who was told by his instructor: “The role of cavalry in wartime is to give tone to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.” Tone is what this new government has plenty of. Whether it also has the drive to get on with the country’s urgently necessary modernization is a question now much debated. The initial reactions are not favorable. The Opposition is scornful; many of the younger Conservatives are resentful; even the Times is tepid. The independent (and pro-Butler) Sunday Times, organ of the New Conservatism, is furious. Its star commentator, William Rees-Mogg, has been wringing his hands and predicting disaster. So, on television, has Mr. Henry Fairlie, the most bellicose of Tory journalists, who called the new Prime Minister a “silly ass.”
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