Johnson had quickly established his eminence in the forties on 52nd Street, his sober, deliberately gloved tone partnering a rapid-fire execution that allowed him to hold his own with the trumpets and saxophones of the bebop small group.
Ministers are anticipating this with a policy of blame dilution: Harriet Harman, the social security minister, was at pains to adopt a bi-partisan tone in her announcement, and the all-party select committee on social security will be given the chance to hold hearings on the draft legislation.