Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Talk about the establishment! Last week I found myself jammed up between Douglas Hurd and Peter Hain! We were part of a discussion on 1968 chaired by John Tusa, along with Joan Bakewell, Martin Kettle of the Guardian and Ann Leslie. It goes out on BBC radio 4 tomorrow morning at 9am. I'll let you know what I think about it when I have heard it. Peter Hain was reflective as well he might be, if he had resigned from the Cabinet over Iraq he might now be deputy leader. Hurd was - no, is - dreadful. He brought out all the soixant huitard in me, and there is still quite a lot. He was there as someone who wasn't there (ie Grosvenor Square). He is not there now and still loathes everything about the sixties with a philistine indifference. As I tried to point out, if 1968 had succeeded in Britain there would no longer be a House of Lords. If you listen you'll get the impression as I did that Ann Leslie was against the revolutionaries. Afterwards, she explained she was sleeping with them, using her familiarity with the 18th Brumaire to score. Take it from me, she was a real 68er whatever she may claim now!
PS: and a special salute to my old friend John Hoyland and his brilliant account of his correspondence with John Lennon.
