RELUCTANT PEER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 15

RELUCTANT PEER

Entry to House Refused

(N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, May 9. Britain’s “reluctant peer,” Mr Anthony Wedgwood Benn —officially Viscount Stans, gate—yesterday lost four parliamentary battles in his bid to renounce his peerage and remain a member of the House of Commons. He was barred by the Speaker. Sir Harry HyltonFoster. from the chamber, where he went to present his certificate of election following his victory in last week’s Bristol by-election. The doorkeeper told him physical force would be used if necessary. Then the Labour opposi. tion, to which the 36-year-old Mr Benn belongs, lost three votes when seeking to further his claims not to be "relegated” to the House of Lords One motion by the party leader, Mr Hugh Gaitskell. urged that Mr Benn should be allowed to speak. He asked why Mr Benn could not take his oath of allegiance to the Queen, which all members take on winning an election. This was defeated by 250 votes to 177—a Government majority of 73. Six "rebel” Conservative sympathisers with Mr Benn voted with the Opposition. The third vote, on another Labour motion, urged that Mr Benn, having won the election, should take his seat as a member, pending a decision on its validity by the electoral court. This was defeated by 259 votes to 162, giving the Government a majority of 97. The fourth vote was on a Government motion that Mr Benn should not be allowed to enter the Chamber until ordered to do so. This was carried by 254 votes to 160— a Government majority of 94. Mr Benn who with his American wife, Caroline, and his nine-year-old son and heir, Stephen, watched the proceedings from a public gallery, must now await events outside Parliament. Actress Recovers.—Elizabeth Taylor was reported to be recovering satisfactorily today from a brief fever which caused her husband. Eddie Fisher, to cancel his part in a major Hollywood charity performance on Sat-urday-Hollywood, May 9.