Wilson Pledges Labour Unity

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 11

Wilson Pledges Labour Unity

(N.Z. Prate Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 15. Labour’s new leader, Mr Harold Wilson, told a cheering crowd last night that his first mandate was to maintain the party unity Mr Hugh (raitskell had passed on.

The 46-year-old Mr Wilson yesterday decisively defeated the party’s deputy-leader, Mr George' Brown, aged 48, to succeed Mr Gaitskell. Voting was 144 to 103.

Mr Wilson’* majority was the exact number of votes polled by Mr Jernes Callaghan, aged 50, in a first eliminating contest a week ago. Voting then was: Wilson, 115; Brown, 88; Callaghan. 41. As Mr Wilson did not get a clear majority then, a second ballot was necessary, with Mr Callaghan dropping out.

Political sources said Mr Brown was fully expected to remain deputy-leader, to which he was recently reelected. His poll showed he was still a formidable force, they said. Mr Wilson said that in the last few weeks when the leadership election was open. Labour had remained a cohesive force. A great deal of credit for this went to Mr Brown. The first mandate was to maintain the party’s unity that Mr Gaitskell had handed on. “And I don’t think that is going to be very difficult,’’ he said. Mr Wilson said the second mandate was to continue those policies whibh were worked out under Mr Gaitskell’s leadership. “Those policies will not be changed," he said. Election Plans

“The third mandate is to lead this party to victory in the coming election. With the help of the whole party and the whole country, that is what I intend to do.” Mr Wilson said the Labour Party intended to maintain the closest links with its Commonwealth colleagues in the very confused future the world was facing.

The basis of the Labour Party’s election manifesto would be its publication. “Signpost of the Sixties.” Asked what would happen if there were an election next month, Mr Wilson said: “We are very confident that we would win it by a resounding majority.” Defence Policy

Asked if he would cancel the Kennedy - Macmillan agreement on Polaris missiles should Labour come to power, Mr Wilson said it was nonsense in defence terms for Britain to try to be a nuclear Power. Not only that, but it hindered all those anxious to get international agreement on nuclear weapons "The first thing we have got to do if we become the Government is to survey the shambles left behind in these negotiations," he said. “Certainly we should not want to continue arrangements under which Britain was having nuclear submarines for some future private war.” Questioned about the European situation, Mr Wilson said the Labour Party did not want Britain to turn its back on Europe. “We want to turn our eyes

to much wider horizon* than Europe. We want to see active negotiation* for reducing tariffs and improving the flow of world trade.” He added: “We have always insisted throughout the years that more could be dorr? to develop the Commonwealth. We have put forward concrete proposals now for developing Commonwealth trade.” Victory for Left Mr Wilson's accession was generally seen by British newspapers today as a victory for the Left wing of his party. But most newspaper* agreed that, although a Left-winger, Mr Wilson was representing a united party. “The Time*” reported: “Throughout the Parliamentary (Labour) Party there was satisfaction that no-one could seriously present the choice as one between opposed Right and Left wings. “That Mr Wilson drew most of his backing from the Left and that Mr Brown drew most of his from the Right is self-evident; but the decisive votes came from the party centre.”

The political correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph" said: “Delighted as the Left wing may be at Mr Wilson’s success, they are mistaken if they believe they have any chance of making him their prisoner. “His object will be to consolidate the support he has already achieved. The way to do it is to steer from the centre."

A “Daily Telegraph" editorial said: “If the next General Election goes the wrong way, he will be not only the youngest Prime Minister since William Pitt, but also one of the cleverest—a fact to his advantage and to that of the whole nation, though it is almost un-British to say so.” The “Daily Mail” said: “If Mr Wilson had selected his own moment to become Labour’s leader, he could hardly have chosen a better one. He inherits a party, temporarily united by Mr Gaitskell, and at a time when the Conservative fortunes ar* at a low ebb.” The “Daily Express” editorial said: “In him high intellectual gifts are allied with subtlety and formidable debating skill.” The “Daily Mirror” Mid: “Mr Wilson belongs to President Kennedy’s generation, and the future is with the young."