GETTY Reginald Maulding served under Harold Macmillan and Edward Heath

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Papers released by the National Archives show that in the early 1960s, gossip about Reginald Maudling, who served under Harold Macmillan and Edward Heath, was rife in Whitehall. A senior Whitehall official reported that a peer had even overheard two fellow ministers discussing his apparent acquisitiveness in the Carlton Club.

GETTY Edward Heath was Prime Minister in the UK from 1970-1974

I have some reason to fear that Mr Maudling may be a little too ready to accept presents Senior Whitehall official

"Lord St Aldwyn said he had been shocked to hear ministers talking about such a matter in a club, but he had thought it his duty to report this to me," the official noted. "I have some reason to fear that Mr Maudling may be a little too ready to accept presents."

PA Mr Maulding was reported as receiving a watch, a camera and a package of gramophone recods

Among the gifts he was recorded as receiving were: "A wrist watch (£10) , a camera (£42) and a package of gramophone records (value you not known but fairly substantial) from the Russians". The official was unsure whether he should inform Mr Macmillan, but noted drily: "From this point of view it is perhaps fortunate that Mr Maudling has ceased to be President of the Board of Trade.

GETTY Mr Maulding resigned as Home Secretary over his links to John Poulson, the corrupt architect