Archer on song as Clark snubs carnival

ALAN CLARK used to be game for a laugh. His diaries were packed with gags about Tory colleagues such as Kenneth Clarke, whom he described as a "podgy life-insurance risk". Even when the joke was on him - when it emerged that he had seduced a judge's wife and two daughters, for instance - he rode it out with brazen charm.

Of late, though, there have been worrying signs that the Conservative MP for Kensington and Chelsea is losing his legendary sense of humour.

Last year he sued the Evening Standard newspaper over a parody of his diaries that he claimed was indistinguishable from the original. This weekend he refused to send a goodwill message to the Notting Hill Carnival - although it takes place in his own west London constituency.

Sending a message, to be published in the official programme of the 33rd annual carnival, would hardly have been a controversial move. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was among those who agreed to contribute a few words to the celebrations.

Could it be that Mr Clark, who lives in a 17th-century castle in Kent, regards himself as too grand to press the flesh at such a popular event? Or is it that, having won the safest Tory seat in Britain, he no longer feels the need to mix with the common people?

Stephanie Harwood, a carnival spokeswoman, said yesterday: "I telephoned Alan Clark's office and asked why he wouldn't suppport such a major event, the largest of its kind in Europe. They wouldn't give a reason.

"The committee feels a bit hurt, considering he's the local MP. We've never seen him down here, or even in the area. He should get to know his local community, and what better opportunity than when everyone is out enjoying themselves on the streets?"

No one answered the telephone yesterday at Saltwood Castle, Mr Clark's home. But in Notting Hill, there were some crumbs of comfort in the shape of Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare who made a visit as part of his campaign to be elected Mayor of London.

Lord Archer, casual in slacks and a cricketing sweater, toured the carnival offices and inspected some of the mas (costume) bands. "He's just wandered off down Portobello Road to see Ebony, a steel band," said Ms Harwood. "He's got a tin whistle around his neck."

Police said yesterday afternoon that the carnival had been peaceful so far. On Sunday, there were only 12 arrests, mainly for theft and drug offences, compared with about 50 on the same day last year. An estimated two million people attended over the three days.

It was warm and sunny in much of Britain for the last day of the bank holiday weekend. Many seaside resorts enjoyed hours of unbroken sunshine, basking in temperatures of up to 24C (75F).

London, the Channel Islands and the Midlands enjoyed the best of the weather, according to the Meteorological Office. Only Northern Ireland, where it rained, and north-east England, which had grey skies, missed out.

The belated good weather did not stop Friday being the busiest day of the year at Heathrow Airport, with 199,000 people passing through. A total of nearly 800,000 travellers used the airport over the weekend.