Gerald Howarth: ...is only newly converted to the cause. As recently as 1988, Roy—now Lord—Hattersley was against it. Only when John Smith became leader of the Labour party was any interest shown in it. As Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—a splendid patriot and a former Chief Whip, but nevertheless a great man—said, this measure emanates from the chattering classes, and Charter 88 in particular. He said that...