MINORITY GOVERNMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 140, 11 December 1923, Page 7

MINORITY GOVERNMENT

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AFTER LAST • ELECTION. Mr. Lloyd George, in explaining »nd criticising the minority vote, said: " The Conservatives succeeded in obtaining the W U? a * "H° rity of their members, but a notable feature of the elections is the return of a decisive majority of members by a very infinite minority of electors. The Prime Minister has clkimh™J\h rec, eiva, d ? vote of confidence from the people of the country, but out of a total poll of 15,000,000 hi s candidates secured less than 6,000,000 votes which means that two-fifths pf the people voted confidence in the Administration, while three-fifths voted confidence in other leaders or groups." I t might be argued continued Mr. Lloyd George, that the Nat.onal Liberal vote (1,544,: lilh tV r 6y had agreed to co-operate with the Government, should be placed to their credit. He quoted the condihr>,im , f roe!u Uf° °, f BUPP°rt- Wd down by himself that the National Liberals ™cd.' hat as, these votes were' conditional they could not be added to the Gover-nment s figures. He stressed the fact that only 40 per cent, of the electors had voted for the Government which was likely to have a profound effect upon the lifetime of this* ParHament. It was the first time since the passing of the Reform Act that a pro Bounced minority had succeeded in se wouldV^^" Parli^nt. »d"

PARTY GAINS AND LOSSES. The gams and losses by the three nrin

In order to understand the changes which are going on politically in Great Britain during the past twelve months, the following in the relative strength of each party over the two elections is of interest:— ' \ .

While the Conservative Party has received serious, depletion by the net loss of 111 seats, the other two'great parties have benefited. The Liberals show little material advantage, only "having gained nine seats, but Labour has benefited to the extent of 112 seats, a happening which has placed Mr. Ramsay Macdonald in the position of being Leader of the Opposition. Independent candidates have not been included in any of the tables.

J.H30.. '' ' „ . . Net Net Conservative, ...^■ I%g»- Gains Losses. .iberala 79 33 7j 91 J*b«ur 01 15 64 Z 1922. ionservatives ... 44 64 _ m Serais 42 to _ « jabour; 83 17 66 Z

. , .Net Net lonservatlve. .i;o^ 8- 6»te.-lo.«a liberals 121 112 g X'_L •^hour 144 32 112 _