BRITAIN’S NEXT PREMIER

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1944, Page 5

BRITAIN’S NEXT PREMIER

MR. EDEN FAVOURED

OTTAWA, Nov. 6. Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, British High Commissioner in Canada, in a speech, said: “Mr. Churchill and a host Of Other people regard Mr. Eden as Britain’s next Prime Minister. But whether Mr. Eden attains to the position depends on the chances and Party fortunes which are such incalculable qualities in politics. There are many possibilities in the development of British politics after the wai. The Coalition Government might continue or a partial Coalition might be retained. The electors might return either the Conservatives or Labour. Some of the Conservatives would choose Sir John Anderson for the post of Prime Minister, instead ot Mr. Eden. Sir John Anderson has the finest administrative brain in the Government, but many say that he is not cut out to fill the supreme office. Il Labour should be elected, the Prime Ministership would be likely to go to Mr. Morrison or Mr. Bevin. Sir Statford Cripps is another possible Prime Minister. He was ejected from the Labour Party because he would not confirm to discipline, but he has many unorganised supporters throughout the country.”

PARTY PROSPECTS.

(N.Z.I'.A. Special Correspondent)

(Rec. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. With Mr. Churchill’s statement that the General Election will not take place until the end of the German war, there has’been a much calmer atmosphere in political circles and the parties are shaping up for this important event in a more leisurely manner. It is now clear it will be a party fight, but the possibility that a coalition may again be formed after the elections is discussed in some circles. This eventuality will of course depend upon the results of the polling and the mood ol the country at the time. Since Mr. Churchill's statement the most interesting political event has been Mr. Lyttelton’s speech announcing the Conservative Party’s sevenpoint programme, embodying strong defence, work for all, and free enterprise. The “Daily Telegraph,” expresses the opinion the speech should not inflame controversy but the Labour “Daily Herald,” asks for a more precise answer as to whether the Conservatives believe in public or private enterprise. It declares that the Conservative chiefs realise the opinion in Britain has moved steadily to the Left throughout the war, and that Mr Lyttelton produced a comprimise “a balancing of platitudes calcultaed to appeal in time to the moving sentiment and Right Wing prejudice, a hotchpotch ol generalities, a Niagara oi cliches.” , .... , Other recent interesting political moves have been the application of Sir S. Cripps for readmission to the Socialist Party from which he was expelled in January, 1939, and the forecast that Mr. Hore Belisha is deserting the Liberal Party and will contest the General Election as a Conservative. John Loverseed, who is a Commonwealth member has stated that if the Labour Party refuse the Commonwealth’s request for affiliation he will apply for endorsement as a Socialist candidate at the election. The excellent impression made by Sir W. Beveridge in his maiden speech has heightened interest in the possibility of the strengthening of the Liberal Party.