Wolverhampton Drugs Riot
Wolverhampton Drugs Riot

I was preparing books for delivery all morning on a very warm and humid day and then driving to Huntingdon to deliver books and publicity during thunderstorms this afternoon before clearing up my office and doing some chores later. The Bank of England raising sterling interest rates by 1% to 14%, the 10th rise this year, as the Tories argue over economic policy. Police in Wolverhampton arrest 20 on drugs charges which prompts a near riot, the Anglo Soviet diplomatic crisis softens a little and Chinese civil unrest is a little calmer.

I went to bed far too late last night and then Diana awoke me early today as I had been taking too long to get down to breakfast lately. Diana went off to St Neots after the meal and I stayed home and prepared a whole lot of books for sale both individuals and to the bookshop’s who have agreed to stock them. This took all morning, but I also tended the plants and animals as it was Pete’s day off today. A very warm and humid day, but thunderstorms broke out this afternoon and it became quite overcast. Later this afternoon, I drove to Huntingdon and delivered a dozen books to WHSmith and just 3 to the bookshop in Godmanchester on the way. Review copies for a Huntington library contact and hunts post journalist and then delivery of all manner of promotional leaflets to contacts in the town.

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I was home very late for tea and then, after tending the flora and fauna, I cleared up my office and sorted my papers out. I met Michael Pope briefly today but opted to write our focus tomorrow as an election thank you. The news today is of the Bank of England raising sterling interest rates by 1% to 14%. This is far higher than those of other countries and is the 10th rise in a year. Building societies are not yet putting mortgage rates up because of the fragility of the housing market. The spotlight is being thrown on the Chancellor’s economic policy and Tory backbenchers are showing and expressing an ease. Police are counting the cost of a major civil incident last night when police raided a pub in Wolverhampton, arrested 20 people on drugs charges and then suffered a near riot of retaliation with buildings burnt and windows broken. The Russians have softened their line slightly on the Anglo Soviet diplomatic crisis but the matter is still not settled. In China, the civil unrest is becoming more calm but the political repercussions remain unresolved. The head of the Chinese Congress is returning to the capital and it seems that the Prime Minister may go but Teng Xiai Ping will stay as president