GOVERNMENT SETBACK AT POLLS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 11

GOVERNMENT SETBACK AT POLLS

No Indication Of British Election

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. British voters in by-elections yesterday dealt fresh blows at the Conservative Government’s prestige, slashing its majority in Sir Anthony Eden’s former seat, Warwick and Leamington, and in Bristol West. In Warwick and Leamington, the Conservative majority was reduced by five-sixths, and in Bristol by a third. Warned by party managers that Warwick and Leamington would probably cap earlier by-election set-backs, the Prime Minister, Mr Macmillan, gave back benchers a private pep-talk. He told them that the Government would run its full term and that the problems of today would bear little relation to the issues at the next election, which Conservatives felt, meant that he had put it off until 1959 at the earliest.

“The Times" said that the Government was prepared for a majority reduced by up to 5000 votes in Warwick and Leamington, but the dramatic drop of more than 11,000 came as a great surprise, all the more disagreeable because of the high poll. The result would bring gloom to the Conservatives and renewed joy to the Opposition. The “Daily Mail" said that the Warwick poll was a Tory demonstration of lost faith in the Government. Could the Government survive such setbacks? The answer was yes, the “Daily Mail’’ said. When the results were telephoned to the Prime Minister, he said: “Well, we will fight back." The “News Chronicle" said that a few hours before the results

came Mr Macmillan had urged Conservative members of Parliament—“don’t get rattled." The “Daily Express" said that special conditions prevailed in Warwick—notably the very great personal vote giveh to Sir Anthony Eden. Labour was now prepared to press ahead with the demand that, on the showing of the by-elect-ions, the Government should resign. The run of heavy by-election losses was sapping the morale of Government backbenchers, particularly those who saw their seats vanishing in a General Election landslide. The “Daily Herald” said that the two “shattering” by-election blows staggered the Conservatives. The Labour leader, Mr Gaitskell, said it was obvious the Government had lost the confidence of the country. “The sooner we have a General'Election the better,” he said. The “Daily Telegraph” said that short of the loss of the North Lewisham seat a few weeks ago the Warwick and Leamington result was the most serious from the Government’s viewpoint of the “little election” results so far. To say that a steep fall was expected was poor consolation. It was impossible to explain, except in terms of changed opinions, a swing of 11 per cent, from Conservative to Labour in a total poll which was practically the same as that of the General Election.