STATE OF CHAOS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 February 1931, Page 5

STATE OF CHAOS

BRITISH POLITICAL PARTIES CONSTERNATION AT HEADQUARTERS LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVE SPLITS' ANNIHILATION OF LIBERALISM (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) LONDON, 23rd February. The by-elections of East Islington and Fareham, by revealing the destitution of the Government’s policy, the annihilation of Liberalism, and a lamentable division in the Conservative camp, caused consternation at the headquarters of all parties. The country is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, yet no genuine policy to meet the situation can be put forward to the country owing to the absense of definite leadership in any direction.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Mr Churchill, Mr Lloyd George, and Sir R. Horne are appearing together at an Albert Hall mass meeting to protest against the weakness of the British policy in India, still further weakening the Opposition. Moreover, the liberals and Socialists failed to reach an agreement on vital clauses in the Trades Disputes Bill, so the Government is threatened with a crisis in the committee stages of the measure this week.

Finally Sir Oswald Mosley’s establishment of a new Labour group is weakening the official section o,f the Labour Party, much as the disaffection of the Empire Free Traders weakened Conservatism.