"more like a parody of what he felt were the views of others, than his own opinion of himself",,,

Perhaps so, but I can't see quite what difference that would make. Pragmatically and practically, the outcome would be the same -- no bookings. It is others' perceptions which count, surely, in such situations. & I still feel that Pete's views really were quite rightward-leaning & not quite as apolitical/MOR as has been theorised or represented above (or as, according to some, he might have claimed for himself). As an example, I remember him once, on a visit to us, speaking vehemently in disfavour of any sort of 'positive discrimination', which he said was inevitably bound to have the effect of arousing envy & resentment.

≈M≈