Casting Vote Saves U.K. Govt.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 13

Casting Vote Saves U.K. Govt.

(•N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, June 3. Britain’s Government emerged shaken but still in power today after escaping defeat last night by the casting vote of a Conservative deputising for the debate chairman.

Conservatives shouted “resign, resign” when a House of Commons debate ended with 281 votes on each side The man who saved the Government was a Conservative M.P., Sir Herbert Butcher, aged 64, who was taking the chair as DeputySpeaker of the House.

The debate was on a Conservative amendment to the Government’s finance bill putting the April budget proposals into legal effect.

He said before a tense, excited chamber that his casting vote would be for the Government, in line with traditional procedure in Parliament.

The absence of three members from the chamber at the crucial time gave Mr Wilson's Government, its worst

moment since taking power last October. Labour has a paper majority of three in the 630-seat House. The three missing men—two Ministers and a member of Parliament—were in the building. But either they did

not hear the bells warning of the impending vote or did not reach the chambers in time. The House burst into uproar when the voting figures became known and again after the chairman’s casting vote. Conservative members chanted: “Out, out, out.” The Finance Minister, Mr James Callaghan, was un-’ smiling as he tried to make! light of it. “This is Derby Day,” he! said. “If I had not known.' I would have thought I was watching a performance of : the hounds trying to tear someone to pieces.” The Labour men who failed to vote were the Post-master-General, Mr Anthony Wedgwood Benn and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Pensions Ministry, Mr Norman Pentland, and the member, Mr Michael English. Their reappearance lifted the strain on the Government whose Ministers had heard the voting figures in shocked disbelief while Conservatives waved agenda papers about in wild joy. In a subsequent division a few minutes later the Government majority was restored to five. This time two Conservative

members had gone astray. The House adjourned about 1.30 a.m. and will resume the debate later today.