My ministerial meetings with Geoffrey Pattie, and rival ECIF and DTI IT Division officers and then another with my Saville Row taylor as the US elects Ronald Reagan by a landslide with the Democrats holding both houses
Up by 6.00am and quickly washed, dressed and ready for the arrival of Nigel Smith at 6.40 to take me to London. With a full programme of meetings ahead of us, I take the opportunity to do some reading whilst Nigel picks his way through heavy traffic by use of a number of very effective back doubles. We eventually arrive at 8.25 at the St Ermines Hotel only to find that all of the parking bays and meters are shut off due to hotel improvements and the GLC Day of Action by public employees. In time, however, for an 8.30am start to the BMMG breakfast meeting. a busy, well attended meeting with a few divisions of opinion on the range of issues that had to be covered quickly. In particular, Nigel will have difficulty maintaining a common view on the local area network standards issue with so many companies already committed to existing designs. Better, though, to have the members attend and voice views than the scant apathy we sometimes get. Off then on foot to No 1 Victoria Street for the BMMG meeting with the Minister of State for Industry and Information Technology, the Rt Hon Geoffrey Pattie, MP, and the BMMG is the first trade association to see him in this capacity since his appointment. He was flanked by senior officials of the IT Division and the Alvey Directorate and arrived late and with little time to spare, which was a pity. Nevertheless, we did manage to raise our full list of issues and have a reasonable meeting. Most of them were about government funding of IT and the recent cutbacks, and we managed to get statements assuring us of no philosophical change of direction, but no assurances of continued funding, which was a disappointment. However, a successful morning for the BMMG with a high profile and active membership participation. News tonight of Reagan’s landslide victory in the US presidential election – the biggest in US history with only Minnesota and Columbia voting for Mondale. The overwhelmed loser retains his liberal beliefs, but announces his retirement from politics to allow another Democrat to lead the party. The elections to Senate and Congress, however, do not change materially their composition and this will act as a check to the President. Straight into immediate tension with Nicaragua as the President accuses the Russians of shipping in MIG war-planes.
A lunch with Nigel, drafting our press statement and then back to the DTI to run it past Andrew Dongood of the IT Division for approval. Then we part and me off by taxi to Huntsman’s of Saville Row for a suit fitting. It is beginning to take shape and I like the weight and feel of the cut and material. Then along Saville Row for a meeting with ECIF Director General, Mr Bullock, to compare notes. I reported on our ministerial encounter and he is leading an ECIF lunch meeting with Pattie tomorrow. Just time for a telephone interview with Datalink newspaper and then off by tube to Kings Cross. Purchases of an evening paper and two computer magazines and pleased to see my article on US export controls in ‘Which Computer.’ By train to St Neots and phoned Di to collect me. A tired evening and restless night thinking upon aspects arising from my busy day. In The Commons, Heseltine struggles in debating over the shock disappearance of the HMS Conqueror’s control room log book with details of the Belgrano sinking. Opposition spokesman, Denzil Davis, claims a cover up at the row continues. On the industrial front, the NCB is claiming a flow back to work this week and the engineers defy a court ruling and proceed with the Austin/Rover strike anyway. In the Philippines, a typhoon causes immense destruction and widespread fatalities. The weather today was milder and I was quite hot in my hat, scarf and coat in London today. The pigeons seem happier feeding and cooing more often.