The news that Christie’s are due to sell various items from the estate of Margaret Thatcher today including her Prime Ministerial despatch box, with an anticipated price of £5,000 and a number of other items that were given to the Prime Minister by the leaders of other states seems slightly odd. If on leaving work I took away the odd few envelopes or a few biros it is unlikely that my employer would have any idea or be particularly concerned. However if years later my estate was to announce its decision to sell these items, making reference to where I obtained them, this would surely be seen as an odd and socially unacceptable way of raising funds. This week the current Prime Minister has been criticised for not declaring gifts given to him, despite his promise of an open and transparent Government. I am delighted that the personal belongings of Lady Thatcher are in so much demand that the estate is able to find new owners for her wedding dress and other items. However I feel a bit less sanguine about the red despatch box which I think actually belongs to the Government and ultimately the taxpayer? How many other ex-Ministers might try to do the same thing?