Old school tie for Soames

Nicholas Soames, unashamed bon viveur, has told friends he will be sporting his old school tie in the Commons today. The Minister of State for Defence was spotted shopping for a new Eton old boys' tie yesterday at his tailor's in St James's.

Unless he is nobbled by the whips, he has told friends he is planning to wear the tie to wind up the two-day defence debate.

There may be a few eyebrows raised on the Tory benches, after the efforts of John Major last week to present his humble background as a Brixton grammar school boy compared to the privately educated Labour leader, Tony Blair. Colin Brown