The Benn Diaries: 1940-1990 by Benn Tony

Author:Benn, Tony [Benn, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2013-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

9

1976–79

Thursday 1 April 1976

THE HS-125 was waiting at Prestwick Airport with my old friend Captain Dan Thomas, and I flew with John Hill, Bryan Emmett, and Bernard Ingham to Dounreay, where Dr Blumfield, the Director, met us. I had a chance to look at the new security fence and perimeter track. I pursued with John Hill and with the Deputy Director exactly what the fast-breeder hazards were and the answer is simple: if the sodium pool in which the reactor is situated ran dry or if the control rods could not be inserted and the reactor went critical, then you could get a melt-out through the metal chamber and possibly, though John Hill denied this could happen, through the concrete emplacement: you would have what is called the China syndrome – where the thing would simply burn its way down through the earth and come out in China (that’s a ludicriously extreme reaction).

In Dounreay, the scientific élite have assumed the role of the lairds and treat the local people as the hoi polloi, although their high level of skill means there is an element of mutual respect.

Monday 5 April

The Wilson era has ended and the Callaghan era has begun. I would say that Jim will prolong this Parliament as long as he can because it may be his only period as Prime Minister. If he loses the next Election, in due time he too will go.

Tuesday 6 April

I went into the House for lunch and who should wander in but Harold himself, puffing his pipe and looking frightfully well.

Harold told us that, walking his dog at Chequers last night, he had decided he was going to sit on the Front Bench and listen to the Budget debate. I must say, my heart warmed to him a bit.

I am going to have a talk to him once the tumult has died down. There are a lot of things I’d like to know – particularly about the security services and I am sure he would be prepared to talk to me.

I sat through Jim’s first Prime Minister’s Questions and number one led to twelve minutes of congratulations. The second was directed at me. ‘Did the statement made by the Secretary of State for Energy about import controls represent the policy of the Government?’

Jim replied, ‘No, Sir. My Rt Hon friend was giving reasons why he was putting himself forward as candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party.’

Then Norman Tebbitt got up and asked, ‘Is it right for the PM to keep in his Cabinet somebody who hates the policies of the entire Government?’

Jim replied, ‘I read my Rt Hon friend’s statement carefully and if there hadn’t been a better candidate standing, I might even have voted for him myself,’ at which the whole House broke out in laughter.

Wednesday 7 April

Had a long talk to Francis Cripps. I don’t know if I will ever be Leader of the Labour Party but I don’t fit the specification for the job as it now is.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.