Cashing in.

In her new book, Carol Thatcher describes her mother's decline into dementia.

While one can but sympathise with someone having to deal with the decline of a parent in this way, it seems unconscionably tacky to go public in what can only be seen as an attempt to increase sales.

This is in stark contrast with the way the Reagan's handled the announcement that he was suffering from alzheimers with a dignified and touching public letter.

Miss Thatcher would have served her mother better either by arranging for a simple statement to be made outlining the facts, or by leaving the matter in private until after her death.