Wednesday 11 Feb 1981
Worked all morning clearing papers and lunched with David [Wolfson] at canteen. He told me that MT seemed scarcely to remember what we’d discussed last night, wasn’t too sure why we were having a meeting with GH [Sir Geoffrey Howe], Wass, TB [Terry Burns] etc! Oh dear! I think she’d had one or two drinks on an empty stomach and was v. tired as well - hence it had all seemed so easy! Also Treasury is trying to play protocol games and delay the meeting till Friday afternoon, which they have [since] done. At 3 David [Wolfson], NS [Norman Strauss], Alan Howarth and I discussed our Chequers follow-up note on strategy. Agonisingly slowly we’re getting one or two of the bits and pieces into place for the ‘secret army’ of advisers to make it - or something - happen. Then dictated first rough note for AW [Alan Walters] to send to MT on Budget Strategy and across to drinks other advisers in Adam Ridley’s room. ...