The Press WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1969. Conservatives’ Hopes Of Office

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32119, 15 October 1969, Page 14

The Press WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1969. Conservatives’ Hopes Of Office

Did the seven-minute ovation for Mr Heath after his closing speech at the Conservative Party’s conference

at Brighton last week strike a responsive chord among the wider British public, or was this no more than an unusually dutiful vote of confidence by the party in its leader? As an election slogan, the theme of Mr Heath’s address—to “ give back to the British “ people the habit of thinking and acting as a great “people”—has possibilities; but there was little evidence in his speech of firm plans to achieve this object

The challenge to Mr Heath’s leadership implicit in the revolt led by Mr Enoch Powell, over immigration and entry to the Common Market was beaten off even more decisively than many political analysts predicted; but the very fact of challenge is likely to harden resistance to change in the party’s established policies. Mr Powell’s arguments for keeping out of Europe were rejected; and the vote supporting entry—l4s2 to 475—seems a good deal firmer than the Labour Party’s endorsement of Government

policy qualified by the need for assurances on such matters as protecting the British standard of living. On the face of it, at least, there is now a consensus between the three parties, Conservative, Labour, and Liberal.

A sharp division of opinion was apparent during the debate on coloured immigration. Mr Powell’s supporters made much of the problems of overcrowded schools and health dangers inherent in substandard housing. The conference supported a motion approving the party’s moderate attitude towards the entry of coloured migrants; but the dissenting vote was large enough to convince the party leadership that a critical look at policy is needed. There can be little doubt that proposals for further limiting the right of entry will be considered. Hie party can hardly be indifferent to the body of public opinion which thinks, in the words of Sir Gerald Nabarro, that too many coloured people have already been allowed “ to come and tent down in Britain

The conference heard familiar arguments for and against the return to capital punishment, and sensibly decided that the problem could best be re-examined at the end of the five-year period set by Labour. The conference discussions reflected, clearly enough, the Conservatives’ confidence that they will regain power at the next election. But opinion poll figures were quoted to show that Labour has made up much leeway in the last two months; and the election might still be a long way off. Economic and other circumstances may yet compel Mr Heath and his party to look for more positive policies to justify a claim to think and act “ as a great people