John experienced these traits at a whips’ dinner in 1985 when, as a junior whip, he was asked to spell out backbenchers’ complaints.
John recalls: ‘I obliged, but perhaps too vividly. I told the Prime Minister the party was not enamoured of our policy. In fact, many of our members disliked it intensely, and were openly saying so in the tea rooms. Only loyalty was holding back their discontent . . . We were close to facing a rebellion.
‘ “What exactly are they concerned about?” came an icy voice from across the table, as her soup went cold.’
Unperturbed, John ploughed on, setting out a list of regular complaints, which seemed entirely novel to the Prime Minister and entirely unwelcome.
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