Sending my budget response to the Press, so as to pre-empt calls, allowed me to get on with meeting BOS executives, promoting John to Comart Managing Director and then made time for Nigel to brief me on CBI budget discussion as Gerry Adams of the IRA is shot and High Court injunctions start tackling the Miners’ Strike
Up as usual and to the office and first to write my response to yesterday’s Budget and get it telexed to the principal journals to forestall a series of phone calls for comment. I had spent the early morning reading the detail of the budget analysis in The Times. A good morning’s meeting with Chairman Alistair Jacks and colleague of MPLS BOS talking future cooperation and mutual benefit in developing compatible products. A sandwich lunch and then an afternoon clearing the mail, catching up on reading and short meetings. Amongst items discussed are quality issues of packaging and mechanical assembly. News today of an assassination attempt on Gerry Adams, the Sein Fein leader, as he stops three bullets and sees three colleagues also hit.
The High Court has granted an injunction to the NCB to prevent Yorkshire Miners from picketing Nottinghamshire mines. Even so picketing continues as further ballets occur over the next two days. The Banks cut their interest rates today to 8 ½ %. Tonight I discuss plans for separating my jobs of Chairman and Managing Director with John Lamb and he expresses his interest in the latter and I leave him to think about it. Also Nigel Smith calls around and discusses BMMG plans and news with me – with particular emphasis on his CBI discussions today on the budget. A little late to bed in some disarray with the house covered in sheets and decorators equipment. A cool day but dry and the family’s health improved. Tomorrow is another day.