The brink of disaster  

SW1A 0AA It looked like a looming disaster. It's impossible to arrange any meeting in the Commons without clashing with other events that compete for MPs attention. My long planned launch of my book in the Commons unexpectedly clashed with the biggest draw of the year for Labour MPs.   Both events started at 6.00 o'clock.   The Parliamentary Labour Party paid tributes to the late Michael Foot, led by Gordon Brown and Neil Kinnock. This was a major parliamentary occasion not to be missed. The speeches lived up to their billing with moving tributes especially from Neil Kinnock who had acted as the son that Michael never had.    I would have loved to have been there. I doubted whether anyone would turn up for the launch of my book. Happily loyal friends did in good numbers. They were rewarded with a speech from Tony Benn. Warm words on the need for the new idealism in the next parliament....