The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1924. BRITISH POLITICS.

Evening Star, Issue 18808, 5 December 1924, Page 6

The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1924. BRITISH POLITICS.

Tub new House of Commons, meeting this week, must present a very different appearance arid atmosphere from that which occupied the ancient scats less than two months ago, before the Labor Government was given its quietus. Then no party had a majority. Even to the eye the new Parliament will be mostly Conservatives. Every clay must have been exciting, holding within itself the possibility of a crisis, during recent sessions. Now for long periods they can be expected to be as dull as politics can ever be, since a Government with a majority of over 200 makes the smallest encouragement for party fighting. when the Ministry which finds itself in such an enviable position is not demoralised by it for activities of any kind. Any excitement this week will most certainly be outside the House, since the election of a. Speaker produced no contest, and that has been the only business set down.

One matter lias been decided, however, in party caucus in which a lively interest could not fail to be felt. Mr Lloyd George has been elected leader of the Liberals’ Parliamentary Party. The election was inevitable', but the extent of opposition which might be made to it had naturally excited strong speculation, especially after Mr Wedgwood Bonn's uncompromising pronouncement on the subject. “ I desire to say,” declared that rigid Liberal, “that I cannot acknowledge in any way, direct or indirect, Mr Lloyd George as my leader in the House of Commons.” He 'was not the only stalwart of Asquithian Liberalism who refused to forget old feuds. A rival candidate—-who is Sir Godfrey Collins?—set up against the disturber of harmony, but grandmaster of parliamentary arts, received nine votes as comparted with twenty-six by which the spell-binder was elected. The minority was small, but it included an cx-Ministor in Mr Walter Ruuciman, and a number equal to the minority, and including .Sir John Simon, preferred not to vote. Tho election, moreover, lias been made only for the session. It was a chastening victory for Mr Lloyd George, who had reason to plead, in returning thank.-, for unity and tolerance in the diminished party. Mr Asquith will still be Leader of the party outside tho House, and that by many times is the greatest part of it. Mr Baldwin and his colleagues can smile happily at these divisions, making the grimmest prospect for the future of Liberalism. All the energy which Mr Lloyd George can command will make a poor advertisement for his party as its effective numbers, for political performance, must stand during the next few years, and Mr Asquith, with a huge task of organisation to direct if Liberalism is to be preserved in tho country, has been least impressive by his energy in these latest days. The King’s Speech in formally opening Parliament will he deUvered next Tuesday. It will contain one cheerful pronouncement which might have been absent from it, the Egyptian crisis being mow ended by Ziwar Pasha’s submission to tho British terms. So far as policy matters are concerned no now revelations can be expected from it after tho announcements which have been made by Ministers in the last few weeks and the full statement of the party’s election programme. The only matter by which curiosity can be aroused will be with regard to the questions which it may be decided to deal with during a preliminary Session. In the election manifesto of the Conservatives two subjects were indicated as more urgent than any others of a domestic nature. They were tho task of grappling with unemployment, including protective measures for industries, short of a general tariff, and an improvement of housing. Mr Amery has since stated that the Government will carry out, thlH Imperial Conferee's Prefe-ence recommendations, and it is to be expected that no time will be lost in placing those onco af’ain before Parliament. The Labor Party and some Liberals will oppose them, but their passage will be assured.

Mr Ramsay Macdonald has been reelected as Leader of the Parliamentary Liabor Party. That choice was also a

foregone conclusion, though ft was recognised that it would not bo acceded to with the same goodwill by all sections of the Laborites. Mr Maxton, of thp Clyde, would have preferred as leader Mr George Lansbury, who was editor of the * Daily Herald ’ when that paper was receiving subsidies from the Bolshevists; but Mr Lausbury showed his wisdom for once by refusing to stand. It is not only the extremists who have had ' faults to find with Sir MacDonald’s leadership. The ‘ Now Statesman ’ behoved that ho blundered badly in forcing the last elections on his party, and the Now Statesman ’ is controlled by the Sidney Webbs. The organ of Fabian Socialism very correctly foretold the result of the elections when they were invited, and its criticism of Mr MacDonald as Prime Minister (not as Foreign Minister) was outspoken in the last degree. “Mr MacDonald," it declared, “ lacks generosity, tie is jealous of those whose personal competition he fears. At the first breath of criticism, whether well or ill-founded, he gels up on his high horse and complains that ho is being unfairly treated. Every argument used agatnsfliim is ‘ dishonest,’ every parliamentary attack a 1 mean conspiracy.' As Leader of the Opposition ho was tough enough, but as Prime Minister he seems too thin-skinned to live.” Antagonising the Liberals, when that was fotly, was the prime complaint made against his tactics. 'Hie prospects are that the Labor Party and the Liberals, moual foes of a month ago, will bo driven more and more into each other’s arms cy the state ot parties in the now Parliament. Mr Bamsay MacDonald, as loader ot the Opposition, must have a task not greruly more encouraging than that of .Mr JAy d George.