Election Leaves Mixed Feelings

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30576, 20 October 1964, Page 17

Election Leaves Mixed Feelings

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Oct 19. The result of the General Election left the British public with mixed feelings and certainly introspective feelings over the week-end.

It shows the country split down the middle, luke-warm and even cool towards socialism, unenchanted about such doctinaire measures as nationalisation, divided over the merits of Britain’s nuclear policy, worried about the balance-of-payments position and the economic outlook. The result also shows that the country as a whole is not particularly enthusiastic about either major party, nor

positive about the attributes of the Liberals. Labour did not attract more votes than in 1959, the Conservatives polled fewer because they lost the support of the middle-class which they had held for the previous three elections. The Liberals did best in the “Celtic areas” —North Scotland, Wales, and South-west England. The country finds itself after just on a year of political campaigning, from the time Sir Alec Douglas-Home became Prime Minister, with a Government about which one of the main questions being debated is: how long can it last?

In Mr Harold Wilson it has a Prime Minister who, at 48, may be the youngest since the Earl of Rosebery took office in 1894 at the age of 47, but with a Cabinet whose average age is rather more

than the one It has replaced. Part of his planning must be with an eye to proving to the country, perhaps within a year or 18 months, that Labour should be returned with an increased majority. This will mean that somewhere along the line he will have to dish the Liberals, on whom he will have to rely for a certain amount of support in the Commons.

How long a time will elapse before another election is held will depend to a large extent on the mood in the Commons, which in turn Will reflect the type of legislation Mr Wilson introduces, and the international situation. Mr Wilson is likely to have a “honeymoon” period. It is also likely, particularly if Britain’s economic problems become grave, that there will be much talk of Labour Clearing up the mess left

by 13 years of Tory rule.” Meanwhile the Conservatives are also going to have their own problems. Having lost the support of an important section of the country while in power they cannot expect, without some drastic replanning and rethinking, to win it back while in opposition. They will have to grin and bear charges of having left the country’s finances in a mess. And if the international situation becomes tricky they will be expected to be bi-partisan If there is speculation on the length of time before Mr

Wilson goes to the country again, the question is also being asked: How long can Sir Alec Douglas-Home remain leader of the Conservatives? Will he still be their leader when the next General Election comes round? Many tributes have been paid to Sir Alec Douglas-

Home in his hour of defeat, but it is being said that he was out-generalled by Mr Wilson and that he was out of touch with the country, especially on home affairs. His “emergence” a year ago is also being recalled and one comment is that instead of being the king-maker he made the mistake of becoming the king. He should now return to the former role.

It may be some months before the Conservatives reach a decision. Meanwhile it is pointed out that time is not on their side and if they are going to redraft and reorganise they will have to get a move on. Mr Wilson has also come in for many tributes on his running of the Labour campaign. It is being said that he won the election on the economic theme that Britain had fallen behind other countries in industrial development and technology.