WILSON’S POLICY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 6

WILSON’S POLICY

Nationalisation Comment

(Ni J>.A.-R«uter—Copyright) Feb. 19 A Government spokesman, Mr Anthony Barber, asserted last night that the new Leader of the Opposition, Mir Harold WHaon, was aiming at a substantial expansion of public ownership if Labour came to power.

He was speaking in a House of Commons debate on the British steel industry, which Labour nationalised and the Government has almost entirely denationalised.

Mr Wilson said the whole party stood behind Clause 4 of its constitution. which stood for nationalisation, but he made no further comment.

The late Mr Hugh Gaitskell, whom Mr Wilson succeeded as leader, tried to steer the party away from Clause 4 after Labour tost the last General Election in 1959, maintaining that it cost Labour many votes be* cause wholesale nationalisation was unpopular. But the opposition within the party to dropping toe clause was so great that he did not press his view.

Sir Gerald Nabarro (Conservative) said he interpreted Mr Wilson’s remark about Clause 4 as supporting the ren at localisation of the steed Industry. This would be very useful to the Conservatives at the next election, he said.