BRITISH POLITICS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 256, 28 September 1942, Page 4

BRITISH POLITICS

GROWING RESTLESSNEvSS. (Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 26.

Beneath Britain's war effort is growing restlessness at the political situation based on tho feeling not only that is not functioning* as it should but also that tho work is not being done by the ablest people. The Economist, in an article entitled "The political dilemma," widely noted, declares: "Neither of the two large parties—Conservative* and Labour—evokes the slightest enthusiasm in tho ranks of the people, while both so .firmly command the machinery of politics that thero is no prospect for a long time of dislodging cither or both. Between them these statements constitute the British political dilemma." It adds that the present Coalition is held only by Mr Churchill's personality. He is party leader because ho is Prime Minister, not Prime Minister because he is party leader. No very great enthusiasm is felt- in the country for the Government, while Labour leaders as a whole have not made good Ministers. Therefore, the public believe, almost subconsciously, that _ they must look for its super-men in the ranks of expelled Labourites or those who have never borne the Labour label. The Economist adds that to improve the personnel of politics a double approach is needed, first to discover and remove impediments now preventing the best men and women from entering politics; secondly, when they are forthcoming to eeable them to enter, which requires willingness on the part of the two party machines to accept a radically different type of candidate. Finally it suggests that Britain might adopt tho American device of tho "primary," which is an election held and supervised throughout the State, enabling members of each party to choose by popular vote the party's candidate at the main election.