The well-known satirical magazine Private Eye, published fortnightly, includes a good deal of serious political comment.
An article in its issue of 2-15 June begins: “Television crime dramas sometimes depict a mild-mannered detective quietly persisting until he nails his villain. Something similar may be happening in the House of Lords, where mouse-like Lord Lexden, also known as Tory historian Alistair Cooke, has for months been pursuing one time top copper Mike Veale, who investigated fantasist Carl Beech’s fictitious sex-abuse claims about Ted Heath.”
It was “one nil to Lexden” when in February Veale left his well-paid job with Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, who cited “continued negative media coverage” as the cause.
The article continues: “In the latest in his series of Lords oral questions, Lexden has now asked why the authorities are still going easy on the disgraced Veale”, allowing him to dodge a gross misconduct hearing in Cleveland for almost two years. The questioner is commended for retaining “ his trademark Monsieur Poirot courtesy” in the face of “waffling” ministers.
Commenting on the article, Alistair Lexden said: “I hope to make it two nil by getting Veale in the dock, assisted by my mouse-like conduct (which no one has ever mentioned before).”
