Reginald Maudling--from bright future to sad end.(Reggie: The Life of Reginald Maudling)(Book Review)

Reggie: The Life of Reginald Maudling. Lewis Baston. Sutton Publishing. [pounds sterling]25.00. xvi + 604 pages. ISBN 0-7509-2924-3.

This is a story of a man with a bright future in British politics who held high offices before a degrading end. After wartime service in the RAF and Civil Service, he joined the Conservative Research Department with Iain Macleod and Enoch Powell. Those three became the model for today's professional politicians who begin in the backroom before entering Parliament. Once elected for Barnett in 1950, 'Reggie' was soon on the Front Bench. He…