Two British Ministers To Resign

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27415, 30 July 1954, Page 11

Two British Ministers To Resign

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

,(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. Two Ministers in Sir Winston Churchill’s Government today submitted their resignations.

They are the Colonial Secretary (Mr Oliver Lyttelton), whose resignation will take effect, immediately, and the Attorney-General (Sir Lionel Heald), aged 56. Sir Lionel Heald said he had left it to the Prime Minister to decide when he might conveniently accept the resignation. A switch of offices as a result of Mr Lyttelton’s resignation and the resignation last week of the Minister of Agriculture (Sir Thomas Dugdale) was also announced.

The present Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr Alan LennoxBoyd) will succeed Mr Lyttelton as Colonial Secretary.

The present Minister of State at the Board of Trade (Mr Derek HeathcoatAmory) will become Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in succession to Sir Thomas Dugdale. The present Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr J. A. Boyd-Carpen-ter) will become Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in succession to Mr Lennox-Boyd. The present Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr A. R. W. Low) will become Minister of State at the Board of Trade in succession to Mr Heathcoat-Amory. Sir Edward C? G. Boyle will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply. The appointment was also announced of Mr Richard H. Thompson to become Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Government whip). An official announcement from Sir Winston Churchill’s office, said Mr Heathcoat-Amory would be a Cabinet member. Personal Reasons An exchange of letters between Sir Winston Churchill and Mr Lyttelton, which the Government published, made it clear that Mr Lyttelton resigned for personal reasons. His letter to Sir Winston Churchill said: “.When you put me in the Cabinet I told you that for personal reasons I could not serve for more than two years. More than three years have passed and I fear that for these same personal reasons I must now resign my office and return to private life.” Mr Lyttelton added that he felt the present moment not untimely for his resignation. “Many problems remain and others will follow, but the main tasks which faced this Government when it took office are now well in hand.”

Sir Winston Churchill’s reply said: “I am indeed grieved you feel obliged to leave the office your father held before you and to retire to private life.”

He added that Mr Lyttelton’s contribution to “grim, grave affairs” would be regarded as wise and notable by future generations. The average age of the seven Ministers appointed tonight is 45. Political circles consider the Prime Minister has taken advantage of the resignations of Sir Thomas Dugdale and Mr Lyttelton to give more responsible posts to promising young members in the Government. The changes give no indication of Sir Winston Churchill’s view of his own future and are not as far-reaching as some reports had forecast.