I NOTE that the council chief executive's department has incorporated the suffix First Among Equals as part of its letter heading.

What does it mean?

Historically, early prime ministers were regarded as "primus inter pares," - first among equals.

In the 19th century, Walter Bagehot's The English Constitution identified their role as being to represent the Cabinet, but not dominate it.

Today the phrase is rarely used in anything other than an ironic sense; particularly in respect of our presidential style of government and the Prime Minister's widespread powers of patronage and privilege.

First Among Equals is also the title of a Jeffrey Archer novel. Its author being a man considerably overpaid for producing much of questionable worth and not entirely to be trusted.

Perhaps George Orwell would have been a more appropriate source.

All departments are equal, but some are more equal than others.

Roger Corda,

Bishophill Senior, York.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, July 22, 2003