Election Race Could Be Photo-Finish

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30553, 23 September 1964, Page 17

Election Race Could Be Photo-Finish

[By ALAN MITCHELL, N.Z.P A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, September 22. After 12 months of electioneering in and out of Parliament, Conservatives and Labour are running neck and neck, according to the three public opinion polls. In fact, the Conservatives may be a stiff upper lip ahead.

In recent weeks two polls have given the Conservatives a lead, and now the third, Gallup, has indicated that Labour—on pre-set figures—may not be able to obtain a working majority.

In the next three weeks will be aired defence, the cost of living, rents, houses, profiteering on land, the modernising of Britain, the “wasted 13 years of Tory rule,” “rule by compulsion” if Labour is returned, education, and the taint of anything resembling a “presidential” election.

One of the Conservatives’ biggest obstacles is the one marked “time for a change.” This is being hammered consistently by Labour, and it could appeal to many, not the least the younger generation of voters who knew not Attlee, and Bevin, and Cripps—and are “tired of the Tories." It could also appeal to the political instinct of the British people: that a democracy, to be a working

democracy, should give the Opposition an opportunity to govern and to have experience of government. An opposition without this experience is the weaker for its lack, and this has certainly applied to Labour during the last five years. Yet the course is by no means clear of obstacles for Labour. Some very soft ground before at least two jumps could well be the attitude of the general public to the trade unions and to coloured immigration. Neither may be touched on by Labour, and only the former by Conservatives. STRIKE THREATS At the moment there is a threat of a national dock strike and of another dispute among postmen in London. A dock strike could hit Britain where it hurts—in the export (which basically means her “bread”) basket;

and the country has already been irritated by postal delays.

Either or both could swing votes to Sir Alec DouglasHome, particularly as recent opinion polls have shown that the trade unions are reported to “have become very unpopular with voters of ail parties.” COLOUR BAR Both sides are expected to “lay off” the colour question, but while the Conservatives have plainly endorsed regulation of immigration. Labour has been far from forthright and has given an impression of woolly emotionalism. Any of the obstacles could be a Becher’s Brook—and Becher’s has to be jumped twice. But as yet only a modicum of mud is flying from the drumming hooves of the party hacks —there are three weeks to go before the finish.