Chapter 5: Personal reminders and thoughts worth thinking 89Particularly when a non-Cabinet Minster is asked to attend, especially if it
is his first time, the Prime Minister may have to be cruel.The visitor may
want to show how good he is, and go on too long. A good thing is to take
no chance and ask him to send the Cabinet a paper in advance.The Prime
Minister can then say,‘A very clear statement, Minister. Do you need to
add anything?’ in a firm tone of voice obviously expecting the answer,‘No’.
If somebody else looks like making a speech, it is sound to nip in with ‘Has
anybody any objection?’ If somebody starts to ramble, a quick,‘Are you
objecting? You’re not? Right. Next business,’ and the Cabinet can move on.
Clement Attlee‘You cannot kill
time
without injuring
eternity’
Henry Thoreau