MR MAJOR continued his great election tease last night - refusing to confirm or deny his election plans, save to say that they will not be announced this weekend. But the guessing-game was overshadowed by a new opinion poll extending Labour's lead, and by the spectacle of Baroness Thatcher forced for the second time in a week to say that she is supporting Mr Major's bid for a fifth term.
Lady Thatcher's office insisted she would be giving her full support to Mr Major, despite a report quoting her as saying Britain would be safe in Mr Tony Blair's hands. The report claimed Lady Thatcher told Peter Stothard, editor of the London Times, in January that if Mr Blair became premier "he won't let Britain down".
A spokeswoman for Lady Thatcher said they had no knowledge "of where this report came from", and Mr Stothard declined to comment. But attention was focused on a diary piece he wrote last weekend describing an evening in clubland last January in which a worried Tory from Gloucestershire had asked what sort of prime minister Mr Blair would make. Mr Stothard quoted "a very senior Tory" replying: "Tony Blair is a man who won't let Britain down."
Earlier this week, Lady Thatcher's office angrily dismissed reports in the Daily Express that her office was actively assisting Mr Michael Portillo's bid for the leadership after an anticipated Tory defeat.
The renewed speculation about Lady Thatcher's allegiance capped another disastrous week, in which the government has again found itself on the wrack over abattoir hygiene and food safety.
Mr Major last night said he would not be announcing the election date before or at the meeting of the party central council in Bath today. Government business managers for the Lords and Commons, meanwhile, gave conflicting signals about Mr Major's intentions. Business for the Lords was announced up to March 27th. But the leader of the Commons, Mr Tony Newton, told MPs he was not yet in a position to make a definitive statement about the Easter recess.