My friend Mark Field doubts whether Boris was a Tory at Oxford (NS Profile, 26 September). He was sufficiently interested to apply on graduation for a job in the Conservative Research Department where his father had once worked--rather by accident, it is true--as its first environment specialist.
My diary records that I interviewed a "Boris Johnston [sic]" on Friday 29 July 1988. I wish I could remember what he said. I retain only a vague impression of merry chatter which led nowhere because glittering prospects in journalism presented themselves to him a few days later. A post would have been his if he had wanted it-- and he would have found himself alongside David Cameron who had been taken on after an interview five weeks earlier. What a pity they missed that chance to establish their rivalry.
Yours faithfully,
Alistair Lexden
Deputy Director, Conservative Research Department (1985-97)
House of Lords
Published in the New Statesman.