LABOUR ELECTION LOSS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 11

LABOUR ELECTION LOSS

Disgraceful Brawling Given As Reason (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) TAMWORTH (England), June 11. Mr Emanuel Shinwell, a former Labour Defence Minister, said at Tamworth today that one of the reasons why Labour lost the recent General Election was the disgraceful brawling for power in their ranks. This was a reference to Mr Aneurin Bevan, the party’s Left-wing leader, and his followers, but Mr Shinwell, speaking at a miners’ rally, said that if the events of recent years were repeated it would be a long time before Labour formed a government again. Mr Shinwell also called for a purge of the party’s “so-called intellectuals.” “I don’t suppose any political party has suffered more than Labour from the so-called intellectuals, the persistent attacks by certain Labour members of Parliament who are professional journalists, and the weakness of some people in authority—particularly on the national executive —who lack the courage to deal with a situation, waste much of their time on foreign travels, and make no effective preparation for the election •ontest,” he added. "What is required is first of all a eleansing process to be followed by educational activity. If the Labour Party believes in socialism it has to prove its case,” he said.