HISTORY BOYS

(Not the film or play, though it is on tonight: BBC 2, 9.00 P.M. The dialogue is superb!)

Who says history doesn’t repeat itself?

National Archives released today from 1977 show that Labour P.M. Jim Callaghan threatened to resign rather than pay an above than inflation pay rise to the police. Threatened with a strike, poor old Jim said he would resign rather than be held to ransom. He offered 10%, the Police Federation asked for 15%.

The outcome? The Federation backed down and Callaghan remained in No 10.

Sound familiar? The only difference is that Brown to date has not offered to resign.

Why? Possibly because it might actually be accepted!