A letter to the Daily Telegraph which was published on 23rd September 1989.

Can anyone remember a more demeaning performance by a Minister of the Crown (report, Sept. 21st) than that of Mr Chris Patten’s pleading in Brussels with a foreign bureaucrat not to “prosecute” our country over infringement of a directive about our own water quality? Instead of giving the only manly reply – “Get lost”, Mr Patten’s undignified supplication received the entirely predictable response – a kick in the teeth.  As vast chunks of British industry pass into foreign hands, a government which continually prides itself on “fighting for Britain” needs to take a good long look at itself.