‘Unmerited Slight’

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

‘Unmerited Slight’

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 6. Four Labour members of Parliament yesterday joined the storm over Mr Wilson’s “leper” remark in the House of Commons on Tuesday. They tabled a motion regretting “the action of the Prime Minister in describing the member for Smethwick as a Parliamentary leper, thus casting a cruel and unmerited slight on lepers.” The motion is in the names of Mr Tom Driberg (Barking), Mr R. T. Paget (Northampton), Mr Charles Loughlin (Gloucestershire West) and Mr James Mclnnes (Glasgow Central). Thirty-six more members added their names to the Opposition censure motion on the Prime Minister. This brought to 50 the number supporting the motion

which regretted Mr Wilson’s action “in describing Mr Peter Griffiths (Conservative, Smethwick) as a Parliamentary leper.” The motion was originally tabled by six former Conservative Ministers. The Government backbenchers have tabled an amendment to the Opposition motion regretting the failure of Sir Alec Douglas-Home to dissociate himself from the racialist activities in Smethwick. Sources close to Mr Wilson said yesterday his remarks had not been intended as a personal attack on Mr Griffiths. He had not called Mr Griffiths a leper, they said. Mr Wilson had said. In effect, that Sir Alec DouglasHome had to support the “Conservative exploitation of the racial issue" in the Smethwick election. If he repudiated it, Mr Griffiths would become a “Parliamentary leper” because he would be thrown over by the leader of his own party.