The Press TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1963. British Labour’s Success

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 12

The Press TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1963. British Labour’s Success

In spite of rising employment, production and trade since the grim days of the winter, few British commentators expected the: Conservative Party to re- > ceive anything but a drubbing in the British local' government elections last week. The seats were last contested in 1960, a bumper year for the Conservatives, and, conversely, the worst year for Labour (which lost 472 borough seats) since the party went into opposition nine years earlier. “ The Times ”, commenting last week on the probable outcome' of the polls, said Labour could scarcely be satisfied, this time with gains of less than 500 seats in the boroughs. In the event, Labour has had ai net gain of 541 seats in the boroughs; and in the elections for rural and Scottish councils, it has more than recouped its total 1960 loss of more than 600 seats. A surprising result, in view of Parliamentary by - election trends, was the comparative failure of the Liberals, who were expected to reduce the Labour gains significantly, though providing little consolation for the Conservatives. Last year, the Liberals gained 320 seats in elections for non-metro-politan boroughs; and in view of the large number of candidates the party put into the field this time, it was estimated that it would need to gain nearly 400 seats to maintain the impetus of its advance. In

fact, the Liberal gain was only 80 seats.

Rates were at the heart of the local elections this year after a revaluation which was not expected to win the Conservatives many friends. But though the result is not a sure guide to the outcome of a national poll, the Government cannot but be disheartened at the result after a series of by-election reverses and public opinion polls persistently giving the Labour Party an electoral lead. For its part, Labour would be unwise to count too much on its unnamed “ eminent political statisti- “ cian ”, who claims Labour’s local election gains would give the party a Parliamentary majority of 90 to 130 seats. A good deal of the Labour Party’s high prestige stems from the inability of the Government to readjust its sights after the failure of its attempt to enter Europe. Mr Wilson, too, has yet to win electoral confidence and trust in his party, which has been in the wilderness for a dozen years, and in his prescriptions for Britain’s expansion. But the results show there has been no recovery in Conservative fortunes; and they will strengthen Mr Macmillan’s reluctance to go to the country this year. Indeed, it is almost certain now that it will be 1964 before Britain has the opportunity to decide which party will lead it towards the promise of the seventies.