From his hospital bed Mr. Macmillan, the old wizard, worked his last and toughest political trick. His timing was superb. He had no choice but to announce his illness and his retirement when he did. The leadership question, preoccupying the party conference, was immediately and fully aired; after which, “the customary processes of consultation,” more sensitive perhaps than the blunt instrument of a vote, churned away underground. Mr. Macmillan allowed those processes to continue just long enough. Then, having understood their message, he made up his mind, tendered his advice to the Queen—and Lord Home was walking through the door of Number Ten Downing Street, before the opposing factions could recover their breath.
The opponents were right over one thing: the leadership question involved not only bitter feelings about personalities but a deep and genuine disagreement about the proper shape of the Conservative Party. The howls and squeals of rage which Lord Home’s appointment has caused show the nature of this disagreement very clearly. They come from the “new” or “progressive” Conservatives. They are echoed by the whole pack of leftists, Liberals, satirists, fellow travelers and fashionable commentators.
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