BRITAIN'S NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 104, 29 October 1931, Page 13

BRITAIN'S NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

OVERWHELMING ELECTORAL TRIUMPH

PEOPLE'S RESPONSE TO CALL

UNIQUE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

OPPOSITION A MERE HANDFUL

(British Official Wlr«!eit.)

(Received 29th October, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 28th October. The National Government ,has gained an electoral victory of unprecedented completeness. The great majority of the results have now been declared, and it is apparent that when the new Parliament meets the Government will have ihc support of approximately 560 members out of 615. The present state of parties is: National Government, 549; Opposition, 57. The Government total is composed of 470 Conservatives, 66 National Liberals, and 13 National Labour. The National gains include 207 by Conservatives, (32 by National Liberals, and 13 by National Labour candidates. The remaining nine results to be declared include some University seats and divisions in Northern Scotland. PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO NATION The Prime Minister has issued a message to the nation in which, after thanking the millions of all parties who supported the National Government at the polls and subordinated for the moment party feelings to national needs, he says: "The majority, as unique as it is gratifying, must convince the whole world that, when Britain calls for assistance, willing hands and devoted minds will always respond heartily. "The very emphasis of the response is embarrassing, but I appeal for forbearance as well as confidence. If the people see that our task is difficult, we will also give them ample evidence that the Government is facing it with sincerity and that men who may not see eye to eye on ordinary political questions are united heart and soul in finding the beat way to overcome the present troubles. "To my political friends who have suffered such unusual reverses and especially to those of them who with splendid faith and courage backed our appeal and helped to swell our.victory, I give the assurance that our triumph will in no way mean that the interests of the working classes will be overlooked in the performance of the task before us." BALDWIN AND SNOWDEN ON WORLD EFFECT I i Mr. Stanley Baldwin has issued a statement in which he says: , "This is no party victory. It is an emphatic declaration in favour t of national co-operation to restore the fortunes of our country. ° The overwhelming support given to the National Government will resound throughout the world and re-establish confidence in the stability and greatness of Britain." Interviewed, Mr. Philip Snowden said: "A great task, awaits , the National Government. The result of the election gives it an unanswerable right to speak and act for the nation, but not to , pursue any party object. Great Britain's position in the world will be immeasurably strengthened." , ,

The Prime Minister will probably see the King to-morrow before meeting his old Cabinet. He is expected also to consult with Mr. Baldwin arid Sir Herbert Samuel. The reconstructed Cabinet will not be limited to ten members as it was when formed for the emergency in August. Parliament' meets next Tuesday and, after formal preliminaries, will be opened by the King on 10th November. STRIKING FEATURE OF ELECTION Exceptionally heavy polling and overwhelming majorities were a striking feature of the election. In constituencies in which the results have been declared about 76 per cent, of the electorate voted, which considerably exceeds the percentage at last election, despite the fact that on that occasion there were many more candidates in the field. The whole character of the Parliamentary representation'of the large Northern manufacturing cities has been changed. In Sheffield all six seats have turned over from Labour to Government Conservative. Labour has held only one of Liverpool's eleven seats. All ten Manchester seats have returned Government Conservatives, five former Labour members being dislodged. In Birmingham Government Conservatives won all twelve scat?. having gained six from Labour. In London in the 38 results declared, only four former Labour members have held their scats. Government candidates won eighteen seats from Labour. ANALYSIS OF RETURNS An analysis of the returns shows that an exceptionally high percentage of the electorate voted and that the completeness of victory was accounted for not only by the combination in many constituencies of Conservative and Liberal votes but' by a heavy diminution in the Labour vote. Cabinet Ministers in the National Government were all returned, and the only member of the National Government to be defeated was Mr. E. D. Simon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, who stood as a National Liberal. The only exLabour Ministers who retained their seats as official Labour candidates were Mr. George Lansbury, Major Attlce, and Sir Stafford Cripps. ,

It is thought likely that Mr. Lansbury will lead the Labour Party in the new Parliament.