Luton Poll Critical For Govt.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 11

Luton Poll Critical For Govt.

(Special CnptU W-ZPAJ LONDON, October 29.

It is now some weeks since it became accepted that the next General Election campaign has begun. The by-election at Kinross and West Perthshire may be considered part of the opening shots, but the by-elec-tion at Luton in November in most ways is far more important.

The by-election in Scotland was important, is of course, but mainly— to the Conservatives—for the purpose of projecting Sir Aiec Doug'asHr>me as Prime Minister In spite of all the verbal fireworks which will sputter and the pseudo-excitement which will be worked up as usual by the British press, nobody doubts that Sir Alec

Douglas - Home will be returned any more than anybody really thought Mr Harold Wilson was making a •"bitter” attack on Mr Selwyn Lloyd tn the House of Commons last week. Mr Wilson amused both sides of the House of Commons, just as both expected him to do and just as the Prime Minister expects to get some political amusement out of his by-election. In fact he has already done so by immediately answering questions posed by Mr Wilson and remarking: “If Mr Wilson's questions are as easy as that I must send him a telegram and ask him to come round to my by-election meetings with me.” The importance of Kinross and West Perthshire to the Prime Minister is that it will help him to become a recognised and accepted figure as quickly as possible, because time is short for him to establish himself and his Government before the General Election, which most of the

informed betting at present marks for May, 1964. But Sir Alec Douglas-Home will probably be paying just as much attention to the fight which Sir John FletcherCooke has at Luton with only a 10 per cent majority—a fact which applies to about 100 Conservative M P s. Luton is a constituency typical of the seats which make all the difference between Conservative success and failure in general elections. Candidates there are the former Deputy Governor of Tanganyika, Sir John Fletcher Cooke (Conservative), Mr William Howie (Labour), Mr Malvyn Benjamin (Liberal), and Dr. Anthony Chater (Communist). “It is the Lutons of Britain that will decide whether or not next year he Conservatives stay in power,” says “The Times” political correspondent, an asks whether Sir Alec Douglas-Home has it in him to save Luton.

He says that on an answer to this kind of question the morale of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, and the country will depend in half a year or more before the General Election comes A win at Luton, therefore, will put more solid heart in the Conservatives than the return of Sir Alec DouglasHome at Kinross and West Perthshire. A loss would set both Labour and Liberals crowing. Nobody can guess what might be the reaction If Sir Alec Douglas-Home is not returnee by the Scots—although some political commentators seem to be writhing in something like ecstasy over what they will say should the Prime Minister still be left without a seat. In the weeks ahead British onlookers, as well as those overseas, are going to hear plenty of political sound and fury. At times it may become difficult for them to judge which is sound and which is really fury.