Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bunhill: Rumours roll in exalted circles

Saturday 13 February 1993 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

WHEN an adviser to a company tells you something about his client, logic suggests he knows what he is talking about. So when a man who works for Vickers told me last week that the Sultan of Brunei was looking to buy Rolls-Royce Motors - the company, not a couple of cars - I believed him.

His argument was that Vickers would not receive the funding it requested from the Government to develop a new Rolls model, and that the hard- up luxury car-maker would go to the highest bidder. BMW was one candidate, the Sultan another. And the world's richest man, who already has a stable of Rollers, should be in a position to find the readies.

Now, Sir Tim Bell acts for the Sultan, so he must be believed as well. The story is not true, said a colleague of Sir Tim: the Sultan likes the cars but not so much that he will buy the company. I will trust Sir Tim . . . for now.

(Photograph omitted)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in