Support For Labour At Record Height

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 13

Support For Labour At Record Height

(Special Correspondent NZ.PA) LONDON, March 19. While the Labour Party’s popularity is the highest recorded by public opinion polls for any party in the last quarter century, the Conservatives seem to stub their toes on one flinty outcrop after another.

After the crash of

their Common Market hopes and the rise in unemployment, added to the cheerless winter, the Government is now facing bitter criticism over the rise in rates and is again embroiled in arguments over leathers* pay.

There Is also a deep uneasiness over the defence policy, while the tanner who has given half a cheer for the results of the recent annual price review has yet to be discovered

On top of rll this a recent survey shows that since 1959 young voters have turned away from the Conservatives. Of those who will be voting for the first time next election, 50 per cent .say they will nark their cross for Labour. 39 per eent. for the Liberals and only 14 per cent, for the Conservatives

Officially the Conservatives are hearty. They believe the poll will awing back in their favour M the time for the election approaches. and they back on Labour under its new leader, Mr Harold Wilson, aiding the swing.

Unofficially they are obviously worried. Some seem almost resigned to defeat. They are relying on the Budget to produce a reversal in their fortunes. If it does not, then nobody would be surprised if Mr Macmillan withdrew, in spite of his recent apparent determination to remain at the helm The "Daily Telegraph’' says exactly half the electorate now supports Labour This means a 16| per cent lead over the Conservatives among intending voters. If this prospective support became fact at the next General Election. Labour could count on forming a Government with a majority of some 250 seats. Intending voter? support the parties in these percentages: Labour. 50 <4B in February). Conservative, 33J (32J). Liberal, 15* (181) Others. 1

There was no doubt that Mr Harold Wilson had established himself as a popular leader of the Labour Party and a potential Prime Minister, the newspaper said “The Conservatives'

chances of recovery are bound to be affected by Mr Macmillan’s unpopularity His critics are now more numerous than at any time since bis first early months as Prime Minister.” the “Daily Telegraph” said. According to the survey.

the biggest single cause of the swing against the Government is the economic situation in general and unemployment in particular To the extent that unemployment figures are bound to improve with the weather, the Government can take some comfort from this.

Mr Wilson has already made several things clear He has envied Lord Attlee’s method of leadership. He will have no circle of intimates as Mr Gaitokell did. He will be available equally to all in the party. He wiU listen to advice and make his own decisions, but will not accept orders He has said that before the next election there will be no more policy exercises breaking new ground. Policies already announced will be adhered to. ‘Unarguable within the leadership and rank and file alike.” as “The Times” observes This. It also remarks, portends she renatiooalisation

of the steel industry, rw nationalisation of road haulage and perhaps nationalisation of the water supply. ‘"Hie Times" says: "Mr Wilson believes that Britain can no longer expect to be the workshop of a world in which say Japan and India can produce more cheaply Instead it can be, and must be. the pilot plant of the world, exploiting its tradition of scientific and technological leadership."