Serious Split Seen In U.K. Labour Party

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28523, 28 February 1958, Page 9

Serious Split Seen In U.K. Labour Party

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27. The British Labour Party is widely reported in London newspapers today to be 1 facing a serious split over its newly-formed left-wing group called “Victory for Socialism.” Newspapers report that the party’s national executive decided yesterday to give the group an ultimatum to call off its activities, or face disciplinary action. The group consists of Labour members of Parliament who are determined that the party shall hammer out a vigorous Socialist programme. Many of them are former “Bevanites'' —but their former leader, Mr Aneurin Bevan, is now the party’s treasurer and “shadow” Foreign Secretary. Their policy has been described as “Bevanism without Bevan.” -Political correspondents today asserted that Mr Bevan had approved the warning given to the “Victory for Socialism" group, but had made a plea tor tolerance. The official objection to the group is said to be that it is preaching politics not approved by the party. For instance, the members of the group want Britain to ban the hydrogen bomb unilaterally.

The party also seeks a ban on H-bombs, but not as a unilateral action. The “Victory for Socialism” group is also pressing for all-out nationalisation. The party leadership, however, is now committed to the “half-way house” of buying shares in major firms for the State. The group has Mr lan Mikardo, one of Mr Aneurin Bevan’s chief lieutenants in the days of the “Bevanites,” as its head. He is also closely connected with the weekly newspaper “Tribune,” which Mr Bevan himself once helped to direct. “Tribune” is backing the group, which, political observers say, has been building up support in branch parties. According to some newspapers today, the Labour Party’s secretary, Mr Morgan Phillips, is to write to local branches advising them to have nothing to do with Mr Mikardo’s followers. The dispute has now involved the “Daily Herald,” the London newspaper published by Odhams Press and considered to be the • voice of Labour policy. Mr Phil- ; lips today accused the “Daily i Herald” of doing “somersaults.” In a letter published in the t “Daily Herald," Mr Phillips said: i “On Tuesday the ‘Herald’ de- . manded that Britain should stop

H-tests unilaterally, and postpone the construction of American missile bases until we have tried summit talks. “This is in accord with Labour's policy: but yesterday's Instalment demands unilateral cessation of H-bomb manufacture and a com* plete refusal to accept the missile bases, apparently regardless of the outcome of summit talks. “I am left wondering what fresh somersaults the ’Herald’ can produce tomorrow," Mr Phillips said. The editor of the "Daily Herald," in. a footnote to Mr Phillips’s letter, said: “Our editorial of yesterday was in no way a somersault. It was a logical development of the argument against rocket bases in this country and, we are certain, reflects the views of an increasing number of persons throughout tha country. “The intention of our present camoeign is not to undermine but to invigorate the Labour movement. to which this newspaper is dedicated.”

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