MR WILSON’S GAFFE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 15

MR WILSON’S GAFFE

(By

ALAN MITCHELL,

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

LONDON, November 6. Labour’s political honeymoon has been short-lived. Mr Wilson has seen to that. It was ended not only by his “leper” remark but also by the general tone of his maiden speech in the Commons as Prime Minister. In almost every possible way he showed his contempt for and aversion to the Conservatives.

It seemed that, having acquired the habit of making political capital while in opposition, he had not adjusted himself to the fact of becoming Prime Minister and appreciating that the role requires him to be a statesman as well as a politician. There is every reason, however, to believe he has accepted the point, which has been borne in on him in various ways, that his prepared and calculated comment about the M.P. for Smethwick was an outsize in gaffes and may remain with him as Mr Aneurin Bevan’s “vermin” remark about Tories stuck with him.

It seems that Mr Wilson’s target was not Mr Peter Griffiths so much as Sir Alec Douglas-Home, whom he wanted to draw out on the question of racialism. In this he failed.

But many people have been disturbed by the way racialism was dragged into the forefront of affairs. They are fully aware of the

growing problem of colour in Britain, caused by the estimated immigrant population of about 700,000, and agree with Mr Jo Grimond, the Liberal leader, in deploring its incursion into politics. It is also being said that the British people have had enough of political bickering, which has been going on for well over a year. They want the Government to get on with its job. This it has been doing, and although reactions to the steady stream of decisions taken and outlined have been mixed, the feeling is that Mr Wilson had made an impressive showing until he sent the Commons into an uproar on Tuesday. Mr Wilson has imparted a sense of urgency. He has committed the Government to a programme of legislation and executive action embracing virtually every aspect of national life. His opponents have admitted that the Queen’s speech was full of interest, with some parts being “admirable.” Two sets of proposals were outlined, to promote industrial efficiency and to restore social justice. There has, indeed, been a sense of unusual political excitement in Britain since the General Election. It is continuing in spite of the foreboding of the Stock Exchange over next week’s Budget and criticisms from abroad over the 15 per cent import surcharge. Some hard-hitting political exchanges are anticipated, especially over points such as the nationalisation of steel. But there is boredom over repetitions such as the “Socialists are cleaning up the Tory mess,” and sarcasms about the appointment of relatives and old schoolfellows to Government positions.

On the other hand there is much attention to how that Government will deal with problems such as the balance of payments, an incomes policy, the role of the trade unions, the ending of restrictive practices, and the approach to “modernisation.” It is felt Mr Wilson. has much more important tasks than stirring up storms in the Commons before meeting President Johnson early in the New Year. This will be during the Christmas recess —when it is now also expected that Mr Patrick Gordon Walker and Mr Frank Cousins will have by-elections on their hands.