LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 7

LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP

MR GAITSKELL HITS AT BEVANITEB

(Rec 10 p.m.) LONDON. October 8. A bitter attack on the Bevanites wij mafie by the former Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Hugh GaitokeU) et Stalybridge. Cheshire, last night. He said that the defeat of Mr Herbert Morpson in the national executive election at the Labour Party’a annual conference was not only an act of gross political ingratitude, but was a piece of blind stupidity which, until it was put right, must gravely weaken the party. “Fortunately, apart from the election of the executive, the conference carpe down firmly on the side of sanity and responsibility,” he said. ‘TAo issues of foreign policy and defence are now settled. “It is time to end the attempt at mob rule by a group of frustrated journalists and restore the authority of the leadership of the solid, sound and sensible majority of the movement. If we go on as we are I say. tn all seriousness to you, that we shall not persuade—and I don’t think we shall deserve to persuade—our fellow countrymen to entrust us once again with the government of the country.” Mr Gaitskell also said that a most disturbing feature of the Moreeambe conference was the number of resolutions aqd speeches which were Com-munist-inspired. “I am told by some observers that about a sixth of the constituency or party delegates appear to be Communists or Communistinspired. Tliis figure may well be too high, but if it should be even a twentieth it is a most shocking state of affairs to which the national executive should give immediate attention.” John Cobb’s Record.—Mr John Cobb’s jet speedboat Crusader made nearly 207 miles an hour, the “fastest ■peed ever attained on water" before it disintegrated on Loch Ness and killc-u him. the Marine Motoring Association announced tonight—London, October 3.