U.K. Govt. Will Keep Majority

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 17

U.K. Govt. Will Keep Majority

t.V Z P A Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, Oct. 26.

Thanks to a Liberal Party member, the Government’s wafer-thin majority of three will remain intact today when the British Parliament will reassemble after a recess.

Mr Roderic Bowen, aged 52, one of 10 Liberals who hold a near balance-of-power in the House of Commons, saved the Government’s majority last night by agreeing to fill the post of deputy chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. The announcement caused a storm in Liberal ranks. The party’s other Parliamentarians

said they were angry at not being consulted. The party leader, Mr Jo Grimond, however, said Mr Bowen's decision to be third man in the Speaker's team of non-voting chairmen was an entirely personal one.

But he added: “We have made it clear that it is no part of the Liberal Party’s responsibility to help the Government maintain its majority intact.” Dr. Horace King, aged 64, a Labour member, is due to be elected Speaker today to succeed Sir Harry HyltonFoster. a Conservative, who died two months ago. His former job as deputy speaker will be taken by a Conservative, Sir Samuel Storey.