Michael Heseltine took another step closer to horticultural dominance this week when he was awarded his badge of office at the RHS President's award lunch - Heseltine is now a Royal Horticultural Society Vice President.
The Right Honourable The Lord Heseltine, is seen here standing between RHS President Giles Coode-Adams (right) and show judge Jim Buttress.
It did cross my mind that this closeness between the RHS and the owner of Horticulture Week (Haymarket) would become a conflict of interest for Heseltine.
I have always had the greatest of admiration for Heseltine and I still have vivid memories of the Westland affair; Although I think Margaret Thatcher to be the best thing (in my life time) to happen the Great Britain, I also thought (at the time) that she sold herself on Westland and Heseltine showed great dignity and honour by walking out on his job in the Cabinet of Defence Secretary.
I loved Heseltine's style and the way he handled himself and my thoughts of the possibility of mixed interests disappeared when I read what Heseltine's partner at Haymarket, Simon Tindall said of Heseltine in the article 'Me and my partner' back in 1999.
Tindall said: "Michael spent a lot of time in the Commons when in Opposition. He knew what was going on in the company, although we never talked business in any detail. But once he was a minister, things changed.
"I was having a particular problem and wanted to find the right person to talk to, and I asked Michael whom I should see. He said: "I am sorry, I can't tell you. You mustn't talk to me about it, because if I met the individual, I want to be able to look them in the eyes and say `I have no idea what you are talking about'."
"Michael's incredibly correct about it. That was our relationship from 1970. Later on, I would occasionally see him at the House of Commons."
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