NORMAN TEBBIT, Margaret Thatcher’s former hard man, says that National Service saved him from becoming a hoodie. Given that the erstwhile “Chingford Skinhead” was once memorably described by Michael Foot as “a semi house-trained pole cat”, one reaction to Lord Tebbit’s claim could be the injunction he once gave to the unemployed: “On your bike”. However, it might also be that he would have been even more of a yob without all that square-bashing. And perhaps he’s just trying to get out of being hugged by David Cameron.
The only place you can read all of Tribune's articles as soon as they are published is in the magazine. To find out more about subscribing from as little as £19, click here.
