Economy: Alan Walters diary (Gas pipeline) [pipeline decision went well; “waffle from Carrington”. Howell persuades PM to delay press release][released 2012]

Thursday 10th September 1981

11.00 GGP [Gas Gathering Pipeline] - decision - all went well. Robin Ibbs change of mind and KJ [Keith Joseph] quite critical. Waffle from Carrington. Says BP don t want it.

2.30 Drafting statement KJ, DH [Douglas Hurd], GH [Sir Geoffrey Howe], DW s [David Wolfson] brilliant suggestion that Oil Cos have refused the GGP (not gvt.)

4.00 Frech Attoli [Sic: Jacques Attali] advisor to Mitterand [Sic: Mitterrand] interested in Gas to get away from Algeria or Russia.

DH saw PM and persuaded her to modify press release - only delay - but kill it off.