SUCCESSOR-TO ATTLEE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27680, 9 June 1955, Page 13

SUCCESSOR-TO ATTLEE

British Labour’s Problem fltoa. U pan.) LONDON, June 8. A renewed struggle between the Bight and Left wings for leaderHdp of the Labour Party is almost •artain to follow reports that Mr Attlee will announce his retirement as leader in October. Reuters political correspondent rew ported last night that Mr Attlee, who Is 72, and has been Labour’s leader for 20 years, would announce his intention not to stand for re-election when the party met for the annual conference in October. However, according to close friends, he will accept leadership for the first few months of the new Parliament which opened on June 7. A meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party adjourned the election of three chief office-holders—the party Leader, the Deputy-Leader, and the Chief Whip. Right Wing Labour sources said it was certain that the Deputy-Leader, Mr Herbert Morrison, who is 67, would be among those nominated for the leadership when Mr Attlee retired. These sources said they expected that the Left-wingers would nominate Mr Aneurin Bevan, who is 57. In a straight-out fight between these two, the odds would be heavily in Mr Morrison’s favour. Another likely candidate is the former Chancellor, Mr Hugh Gaitskell, who meets the demand of a large section of the party for a leader from the younger section. Mr Gaitskell is a confirmed antiBevanite.