LABOUR’S REBEL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 10 March 1939, Page 7

LABOUR’S REBEL

I SIR STAFFORD C ’KIRI'S j ; j Illy Air .\lail-Uwo Correspondentl | • LONDON. 9th February, j Judging by Parliamentary Lobby j comment, there is now no doubt that the*propaganda machine at Transport House is successfully dispelling the qualms originally felt by many Labour ! M’s.P. over Sir Stafford Cripps’ expulsion from the Party, and indeed 1 have been surprised to hear many comments on Sir Stafford of a coolly hostile nature. Whether this Parliamentary opinion may be taken as a guide to feeling in Labour constituencies remains to be seen, but the hierarchy does not seem to expect much difficulty in bringing 1 rebellious and truculent branch organl j isations into line Parliamentary Labour’s discipline is much more rigid I i than that of the Government Party, for j a Socialist Winston Churchill would 1 not be tolerated in the Opposition ranks [ for a moment. The ruling on Party discipline is clear and well understood. I I Back-benchers are permitted if adequate > explanation is forthcoming, to abstain from an Opposition vote there were } one or two abstentions when the House . divided in October alter Mr Chamberlain’s activities at Munich had been debated— but a vote against the Party is absolutely forbidden. During the past few months one or two Conservatives ’ have got away witji a vote against the l I Government, and there is. of course, a J I perpetual Hanking movement of a ' handful of dissidents. The Premier s himself ignores them. Perhaps this is 5 the best cure.