Tories Strengthen Grip In Britain

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 15

Tories Strengthen Grip In Britain

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, May 7. Conservative candidates have inflicted more defeats on the Labour Party in the British municipal elections, which have also meant a surprise set-back for the Scottish Nationalists.

Even in Glasgow, a Labour stronghold for 30 years, the Tories took control of the city council. And they repeated their success in Huyton-with-Roby, the Lancashire constituency of the Labour Prime Minister (Mr Harold Wilson).

But north of the border, Scots upset many predictions by rejecting the patriotic appeal of the Scottish Nationalist Party, whose dream of civic power was badly shaken yesterday. The municipal elections in England and Wales are being held throughout this week, voters in most of the major towns going to the polls today. Labour, having taken a battering on Monday, suffered a bitter blow yesterday when the second half of Mr Harold Wilson’s constituency fell to the Tories. Twenty-four hours earlier, Kirkby had fallen to the Liberals. When, early today, it was known that the Conservatives had taken control of the Huyton-with-Roby Council, jubilant Tories telephoned the result direct to the Conservative leader (Mr Edward Heath). They claimed that Mr Wilson could lose his Parliamentary seat in a General Election. The Prime Minister’s majority for his House of Commons seat at the last General Election was 20,940. The Conservative Party chairman (Mr Anthony Barber) commented: “Mr Wilson is fond of saying that a week in politics is a long time. Only three days ago he told the nation *1 know what is going on.' So, apparently, do the electors of Huyton.” Tide Stemmed The Scottish polls suddenly stemmed the tide of popularity that had favoured Nationalists over the last few years.

Scottish Nationalists took one seat from Labour, but

failed badly in their attempt to become the second-largest party. In Glasgow, the Tories won control for the first time in 30 years. The ToryProgressive Alliance, already the largest party in the city council, captured four seats from Labour to take over-all control.

But in Aberdeen, Labour gained two seats to take control of the council from the Conservative Progressives. Elsewhere voters rejected the Nationalists. In Edinburgh, for instance, where there were 23 Nationalist candidates, only one gained a seat Aberdeen, with 12 candidates, showed no gains; and in Dunlee, 11 candidates brought no increases.

In Scottish towns last year, the Nationalists made a big challenge for power. In Glasgow they won 13 seats, 12 of them from Labour. Bad weather and the Scotland v. Ireland international soccer match in Glasgow reduced polling in Scotland.

A spokesman for the Scottish Nationalists said: “It has been a surprisingly low poll, and this has militated against us.”