Election fever mounts as U.K. braces for strike

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 1

Election fever mounts as U.K. braces for strike

(X.Z.P.A\*Reute r—C opy right} LOIXDON, February 6. Election fever gathered momentum in London political circles today as the dispute between Britain’s coal miners and the Government remained unresolved.

Many members of Parliament are confident that the Prime Minister (Mr Heath) is on the verge of calling a General Election.

Political observers say February 28 is the most likely date for an election. Speculation was heightened by a series of angry Parliamentary confrontations last night between Mr Heath and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Wilson). “It is hard to find a single politician who does not believe we are within a day or so of the dissolution of Parliament — and the beginning

y|of an election campaign,” y i said one authoritative source ‘at the House of Commons. d The chairman of the i- National Coal Board (Mr it Derek Ezra) said the strike in d the mines, due to begin on n Sunday, could cause an economic catastrophe unmatched, el in Britain’s post-war indus-i :-1 trial history. r Despite the failure of the; •-IGovernment and mine union g!leaders to reach agreement -;on a pay demand there is still 'some hope that a strike -could be averted. The president of the National Union of Mineworkers (Mr Joe Gormley) jtold a meeting of Labour jParty M.P.s last night that ,“the strike decision is not irII reversible. If there is a call ? I from Downing Street with 11 1 some cash, it can still be ’’(called off.” But he added: “We feel wel 11 ; are dealing with an intract--11 able Government and I must 8; warn that once a strike starts attitudes will become harder a and harder and room for ’•negotiations narrower and ’■ .narrower.” Mr Gormley said yesterday that his union hoped for a >• “short sharp battle’’ but Lon--Udon national newspapers to-

iday predicted a long destructive economic struggle. The “Daily Mirror'’ said: “Unless a miracle happens

.within the next four days, Britain will have entered a long and ruinous conflict ithat could leave the country scarred for years.” j For over a month the country has been on a three-day 'work week to save electric i power after the miners had 'banned overtime. Yesterday the stock marIket fell 8.7 points, wiping almost £6s()m ($1,056,250,000) I off the total market value of I shares in British-based comIpanies, according to a calculation made shortly before The London Stock Exchange iclosed for the day. Britain now faces the austere prospect of widespread power cuts, floundering businesses, a rising imbalance of trade and a further slump in the value of sterling on foreign exchange markets.