Attlee Takes His Seat In The House Of Lords

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27917, 14 March 1956, Page 17

Attlee Takes His Seat In The House Of Lords

(From the London Correspondent Of “The Press")

LONDON, February 29. Earl Attlee, who has taken his seat in the House of Lords, is the fifth British Prime Minister since World War I to be created an earl and the fourth to enter the Upper House. Lloyd George never took his seat in the House of Lords. Those who have preceded the former Socialist Prime Minister into the Lords’ Chamber in recent times are Lord Balfour, Lord Asquith and Lord Baldwin and it is a thought for Earl Attlee that none added to his reputation. This is an historical fact reaching back to great Prime Ministers like Walpole (Earl of Orford), Pitt (Earl of Chatham) and Disraeli (Earl of Beaconsfield) with, perhaps, the notable exception of. Lord Salisbury). None has been able to make anything like the impression in the Upper House he made in the Commons. Lord Balfour spent three years during Baldwin’s second administration as

Lord President of the Council, but his powers were far on the decline at this stage. Lord Asquith made few speeches and only one—on Free Trade—is remembered as having any of his old vigour and fire. Lord Baldwin contributed only one speech. Lord Asquith’s impressions of the Upper House were unfavourable. He wrote that the standard of speaking was very low and that some members (mentioned by name) would hardly be listened to in an average county council; “they mumble away a lot of spineless and disconnected platitudes.” This, then, is the challenge that Earl Attlee will face during his period in the House of Lords. It is fairly safe to say he will not mumble spineless platitudes and if he took up the leadership of the Socialist Party there he should become the best it has had. After 20 years as leader of the party in the Commons he has acquired a wealth of experience that could bring I authority and liveliness to the debates.