Bunhill: Loosened tongues

SECOND embarrassment. News that President Hezza had launched the National Languages for Exports Campaign Week last Wednesday prompted naughty thoughts about the lack of language qualifications among the President's followers.

The cynicism was soon dispelled by the discovery that the minister responsible for Overseas Trade, Richard Needham, not only spoke fluent German, but could also understand Japanese. No wonder Lady Thatcher, who never made any real effort to help British industry, mistrusted him and kept him cooped up in Northern Ireland.