LABOUR PARTTS FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 40, 15 August 1942, Page 5

LABOUR PARTTS FUTURE

SEEN AS CRITICAL (By T«fegr«pfr—Press Association— C««rlflht.) (Special Correspondent*) LONDON, August 13. An article in the "New Statesman and Nation" gives the opinion that the future of the Labour Party is among the major uncertainties of British' politics. '"There is no serious observer of its life who is not aware of its critical condition," the article says. "Its loss of membership is heavy, and its power to recruit youth, is tragically small. It has an ageing party in. the House, and hardly more than four or five of its members have any appeal in the country. "The hulk of the candidates for the next election are middle-aged men and women who have lost 'the first, fine, careless rapture' of crusading. It doe* net possess a do2en men who could fill a halt in any large centre of production. The second party In the State is openly discussed as a failure." Inquiring what has happened, the article suggests that the party's leadership is gravely inadequate and that it has accepted a position of tragic subordination in the present Govern-" ment while it has suffered in public opinion through its high'age composition. The "Manchester Guardian" has also commented on the elderliness of the Labour Party members of the House of Commons. Fewer than one-fifth of these members are under 90 years of age. one reason being the preference of the Trade Union Congress for the election of trade union officials of long experience. This has.led to the comment that . unless the Labour Party tackles the question, of selection of younger Parliamentary candidates its political existence will be threatened.