AGAINST PARLIAMENT Modern Melodrama

and five months later, on June 18, Wilson abandoned his government's plan to bring the unions under state control.

After considerable backing for Wilson's plan it quickly became apparent to the ruling class that he had acted too slowly and without sufficient resolve. And when he capitulated to the trade unions he sealed his fate with his masters in the bourgeoisie.

Cecil King, head of the Mirror group of newspapers and the largest publishing empire in the world, was among those who viewed Wilson's failures with growing frustration. He and his buddies began to cast around more feverishly for a new form of businessman's government to take over. In Act II of our melodrama, we trace entries in King's personal diary from 1968 to 1970 when the Tories were elected. nity are talking about the date of the next financial crisis, ministers sail on oblivious. There was a lunch yesterday, or Monday, at which Norman Collins [deputy chairman Associated Television - ATV] had as guests Eric Fletcher [deputy speaker], Shawcross, Renwick, Ellis Birk [director IPC] and Beeching. "They were agreed that the country is in a mess and that Wilson wouldn't do. Eventually they decided to see if they could get Roy Jenkins to dine. It was agreed that the Tory Party is in such a mess that a purely Tory administration is no answer. But what about an Emergency Government? I thought this a good name for a National Government.' February 9: 'Ellis Birk looked in to tell me more about the Norman Collins lunch. In addition to those already mentioned, there were present Lord Watkinson [former Minister of Defence] and Field Marshal Lord Harding, Cromer was asked, but didn't come; it was thought he would have come if he could. The outcome is a lunch or dinner which Jenkins has agreed to attend in the near future. 'Sigmund Warburg is to be invited to join them. Everyone spoke with affection and respect of Jenkins, but I think this is all late in the day.' February 22: While I was away The Guardian" had a big piece on the front page suggesting I was trying to organize a coalition. So I published a denial . . . Politicians seem incapable of understanding that when I talk of a coalition I am talking of the future, not to the -present.' April 22: 'lain Macleod to lunch. He wanted to know how I saw things, as I had been right all along! I told him substantially • what the Bank of Fascists