Foreign secretary grabs a holiday bargain with a ferry to France
Margaret Beckett took some time off to relax from the Middle East crisis last week by towing her caravan to France, according to the Daily Mirror.
Ms Beckett, 63, insisted on making the annual trip with her husband Leo despite the war in Lebanon. The foreign secretary was determined to go ahead, as heart surgery had prevented Leo from going the year before.
The modest minister boarded a ferry to Dover with their vehicles, which come complete with high-tech communications equipment should Whitehall come calling. In addition, a three-man team from Special Branch provided protection to the couple.
One mum, who recognised the minister on the P&O boat, told the newspaper: "I can't believe she's just on a ferry going to France and not flying across the world somewhere posh."
Ms Beckett is expected to spend some time in the south of France on a gastronomic expedition of the country.
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10.08.2006.