The view from the middle lane

The Hugo Young Papers: Thirty Years of British Politics — Off the Record, by Hugo Young, edited by Ion Trewin

The late Hugo Young was the political columnist of the chattering classes. This book, rather more grandly, describes him as the ‘the Pope of the liberal left’. A lifelong Cath- olic, educated by Ampleforth monks and Balliol dons, in his twice weekly Guardian columns he combined moral authority with shrewd insights into the ways of political man.

His mission was to promote liberal democracy and a united Europe. He quotes the left-wing Tony Benn in 1986 ‘chiding me for my centrist views, saying that my position was that of giving my Episcopal benediction to all shifts to the centre’.

Young’s premature death from cancer five years ago left a void in political journalism that has not been filled. But from beyond the grave comes this weighty collection of his unpublished writings — that were never designed to see the light of day. For over 30 years as a columnist for the Sunday Times before the Guardian, Young was an assiduous luncher of politicians; usually at his Garrick Club, but sometimes at London’s more exclusive restaurants, like Wilton’s and the Ritz.

Though Young never recorded or took a note at the table, he would type out a full account of the conversation immediately after the lunch. The politicians almost all had their tongues loosened by alcohol and the knowledge that, according to the rules of the game, they were speaking off the record and would never be quoted by name.

But after his death, his widow, Lucy, along with the Guardian, decided to publish his accounts of the conversations. In every case the permission of the politician concerned was sought, if they were still alive. Death was taken as signalling consent. Of those approached, 90 per cent said yes.