POLITICS IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1944, Page 5

POLITICS IN BRITAIN

PROSPECT OF ELECTIONS

LONDON, January 19. Will the new session of Parliament be its last? Will it be followed by the end of the Coalition, a General Election, and a return to party politics? These are questions engaging the- attention of political circles. There are many people who are of the opinion that all the answers will be "yes." The political correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" says Parliament is meeting "under a strong sense" that the session will settle the fate of the Coalition and future parties, and adds: "Even Ministers have told us this may be the last session of the present Parliament, which is another way of saying there will be a General Election before Christmas." He adds that while less is likely to be heard of such prognostications during the invasion, yet "a successful invasion would make the election certain." He continues that while at this time last year the Coalition had what insurance companies call a "good life," the position has now changed. The Labour conference insisted on being consulted before any decision was taken by its leaders in favour of remaining in the Coalition. Liberals actually voted for withdrawal at the end of the war. Mr. Churchill himself has confessed that of the alternatives of an appeal to the country by a coalition and an appeal by the three parties, each playing its own hand, the second is the likelier. The "Observer's" political correspondent also expresses the opinion that the present session may be the last one of the war against Germany, which will be the dominating fact when the Parliament reassembles. This correspondent continues: "No policy has been announced, for an early peace is the only rgenda. This troubles many members of Parliament* in all parties. Is a coalition based on compromise incurable and costive in home affairs? Would not a party Government with a new mandate as soon as practicable do much better? There is no opposition, not even a united front of critics, still less an alternative Government. There is much restlessness at the political truce, which is allowing the Commonwealth group to make headway, and in the country there is restlessness, commented on previously, at the apparent lack of planning for postwar reconstruction. There is speculation whether Mr. Churchill. may comment on the position. It is recalled that he did so after his last period of convalescence.