MR CHURCHILL’S LEADERSHIP

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 5

MR CHURCHILL’S LEADERSHIP

VALUE TO OPPOSITION

QUESTIONED FAILURE TO INFLUENCE BY-ELECTION (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 28. After Labour’s success in the South Hammersmith by-election, the Socialists are deeply satisfied with their phenomenal by-election record, and do not hide their pleasure in finding that Mr Churchill’s personality and popularity proved ineffective at South Hammersmith. There is no doubt that Mr Churchill is held in affection and deep respect for his war-time leadership, and the Conservatives regard him as one of their greatest voteattracters, though it is said that some of the, younger members believe him to be a handicap to the party, since he tends to monopolise the limelight that would otherwise be distributed among other leading figures of the party. Most of the Cabinet, it is understood, believe Mr Churchill to be an asset to the Labour Party. Their view is that his Parliamentary appearances, while often provocative and amusing, do not amount to good generalship of his party. It has even been said that he is an indifferent parliamentarian, and his critics support this by pointing to his recent activities over the Supplementary Estimates. At first, Mr Churchill gave the impression that he was going to launch a strong attack on the Government for “gross mismanagement,” and that he would in particular attack the Minister of Health (Mr Aneurin Bevan). A week later, however, he appeared to have changed his mind, and said that only if the Government did not reasdnably justify the increased estimates would the Opposition move a vote of censure. It was an anti-climax, and he heightened it by leaving the field clear for Mr Bevan, who, it is generally agreed, wiped the floor with the Conservatives, while Mr Churchill remained silent.

Such incidents are not lost upon the public, nor is the result of his personal appearance at South Hammersmith, which provided little more than an opportunity for the people to see him and cheer him for his war-time leadership. After South Hammersmith it is again being insisted that the Conservatives are still without an attractive alternative policy to that of the Government. They have been provided with useful ammunition in the mounting costs of runpine the country. Is it they may be withholding their barrage until after the Budget, which will be announced in the course of a few weeks? Sir Stafford Cripps, it is stated, will attemut to produce an election-winning Budget, but it is to be wondered whether he can reduce taxation in the face of the millions of extra money required to run the country.

Taxation and the high cost of living appear bound to take an increasingly important part in electioneering, and may exert an important influence on the middle-class floating vote. They are unlikely to have much effect on the block Labour vote, which Labour Party headquarters estimates at 9,000,000.