SUCCESSOR TO GAITSKELL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30035, 21 January 1963, Page 11

SUCCESSOR TO GAITSKELL

Death May Reduce Labour Prestige (N-XPA.-Jtaafar Copitepht) LONDON, January 19. The death of the British Labour Party leader, Mr Hugh Gaitskell, yesterday could have, far-reaching effects both on the party’s fortunes in the next General Election and on its whole political future. In recent years the party’s prestige with the electorate had become more and more bound up with the personality of Mr Gaitskell. He enjoyed the esteem and respect not only of the great mass of Socialists, but also of many of his most implacable political rivals.

Among voters who would have hated to see a Labour Government in power, it was sometimes said there was at least the oonsolatiion that it would be headed by Mr Gaitskell. No-one of cornpanabie stature as politician and statesman appears avatiatole to take bis place, and no candidate who might emerge has the guarantee of being able to command at first the errtbusiaatic backing which Mr Gaitskell enjoyed. The selection of a new leader could revive the sec-

tional feuding from which the party suffered tar a decade, and which Mr Gauitskeli strove so hard and successfully to end. The man considered by some to have the strongest

claim to the succession is Mr Harold Wilson, the “shadow” Foreign Secretary and a fanner Cabinet member. But also in the forefront of contenders is Mr George Brown, aged 48. deputy to Mr GaitidorlJ, and tar the moment acting-leader of the party. Others considered in the ruauztag are Mr James 04lagban, 5O, the "shadow” Chancellor of the Exchequer; Sir JVank Soskice. aged 60. who was Aittarney-Genecal in the postwar Labour Government; and Mr Patrick Gordon-Walker, aged 55, a Donner Oonxnonweekth Relatione Secretary. Mr Wilson, an inteJlecturt, had a meteoric rise in the Labour Party, becoming President of the Board of Trade ait the age of 31. He is considered a brilliant economist and a redoubtable Parliamenitarien, with a gift of biting sarcasm in driving home a case.

He has a big following among Britain's locai Labour parties, many of which hare a left-wing tradition, and his gifts also command the respect of centre elements in the party. Mr Brown, who has a trade union background, has solid support among the powerful body of trades union members of Parliament, but some politicians say he would not be the left-wing preference He gave Mr Gaitskell unfaltering loyalty, but whether the party as a whole would back Ms candidature, or decide the leadership needed different qualities, has however, still to be established. Mir Callaghan, broadly “GaitekeUate’’ in outlook, is

personally popular, though R is thought some of the leftwing would not view bis candkfature enthuatarticadly. Mir Gordon-Walker, another strong champion of Mr Gottekrtl, is ji iatfu eataanwd in the centre sections of the party. Lake Mr WHaon, he had considerafote Cabinet experience in the port-war Labour Government. Party's Prestige High The death of Mr GaDtakrtl has struck the Labour Party at a moment when Government prestige with the electorate shows a persistent slump and soctiliat popularity has been growing- The improvement in the Labour Party's politicrt fortunes over the last 15 months was ascribed by many politicians as due considerably to the personal popularity of Mr Gaitskell and his work in welding Ms ftvtded party into unity. A big question now posed is whether, with Mr Gaito-

keU's death, some pert of this “personal vote” given ham may now be transferred to another anti-Government pereonaUty - the Literal leader, Mr Jo Grimond. Some potiticians aay Labour's loss could fa the circumstances be the Liberals* gain. The Labour leaders will meet on Monday to diecusa the grave problems now fteing theta* party, but Mr Brown has arid there will bo no question of a successor until after Mr Gaitskell’s funeral.

“Ns Danger of Split” Mr Witoon arrived in London by air from New York today, after cutting toort a lecture tour of American universities. At the airport Mr Wilson tokl a press conference the policies instituted by Mr Goafatil would be carried on and that there was no danger of a split in the party. Mr Wilson, who declined to speculate about Mr GattskeU's aucceesor, commented: “The policy he played such a lending part. in creating will go on as before. There won’t be any changea there. “But the tragedy is, poised as we are now and looking like winning the next auction, that be. who has done so much towards winning it, won’t be there to see its “Wlshfnl TMaktag** Mr Brown said that to sup* gert that Am death of Mr Gaitaketi had rained Labour’s preapacto rt the next election was "wUMUI dunking»» Mr Brown, who to touring unemployment areas in north east Enfand, said in Dutitem: “Now we take up the fight where Mr GoftakeU has had to lay ft down. I see no reason at all why ere should, in the absence of his physical presence, not have toe spiritual impact he made on the country.’’ The party was ready to face the Government in an election “as aoon as they like, on any iaoue they like—and to win.”