Conservative Election Candidates9 Troubles

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28795, 16 January 1959, Page 9

Conservative Election Candidates 9 Troubles

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, January 15. Adoption of Conservative candidates for a by-election and for the next General Election is causing ructions in at least three constituencies. There has been some opposition to 23-year-old Henry Paul Guinness Channon being adopted to fight the Southend West byelection on January 29, to Montgomery Hyde, Unionist-' M.P. ttr North Belfast being readopted for the General Election, to Major James Friend being a prospective candidate foi» Bournemouth East and to the Ear) of Dalkeith, who was rejected by Renfrewshire as a prospective .candidate in favour of Miss Betty Harvle Anderson, Mr Channon is objected to on the grounds he has never fought in an election campaign before and that he is inheriting seat from his father and his grandparents, Lord and Lady Iveagh. botn of whom represented South-

end West in the House of Commons.

It is, pointed out by his supporters that at least he has a “tradition of service," as the seat has been held by his family since 1912.

/Objections have been raised to Montgomery Hyde in North Belfast because of the number of independent lines he adopted in the Commons, particularly in support of the abolition of capital punishment and his attitude towards the Wolfenden Commission’s recommendations on homosexuality At a meeting of the Local Unionist Party, however, he confirmed his candidature over two opponents One of them. Air Marshal Sir George Beamish, gained only five votes fewer. In Bournemouth East. Nigel Nicolson the present member has been disowned by the Local Conservatives because he opposed Government policy over Suez and the prospective candidate is Major Friend. .< But here complications have

arisen because Major Friend is accused of having an z indiscreet link with the League of Empire Loyalists, whose abuse of Mr Macmillan as Prime Minister and the disruptions they caused at Conservative meetings have annoyed the Tories. While Major Friend has disowned the Empire Loyalists, they have decided to contest the seat in the next General Election. As for the Earl of Dalkeith he is regarded by Scots Tories as “untried" and Miss Anderson, who has been unsuccessful in three tough and testing election contests, has been preferred. These various disputes while stirring up things locally have been observed by Labour and Liberals with droll amusement.