MR CHURCHILL’S TOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 26 June 1945, Page 2

MR CHURCHILL’S TOUR

CROWDS AT EVERY STOPPING PLACE London, June 25. Mr Churchill was on the road early in continuation of his countrywide election tour. Crowds were waiting to meet him at every stopping place. The first halt after leaving Chequers was the Market Square in Aylesbury where a microphone was thrust into his hands. Mr Churchill in a brief speech appealed for a decisive majority. If the country broke into factions and no party had an effective majority the greatest weakness would arise. Peace in the world was only preservable by unity. Mr Churchill, wearing a red rose in his buttonhole, waved a cigar to people on .the roadside but would not visit the towns off the scheduled route on the ground that the tour could not be comiDleted in time if he accepted the invitations. BIG BIRMINGHAM CROWD TUMULTUOUS RECEPTION (Rec. 12.20 p.m.) London, June 25. After nine hours’ travelling and mak-h-,a sneeches under a hot sun Mr Churchill wound up the first dav of his I election tour by addressing 10.000 peoI pie at Birmingham-. The crowd awaiting Mr Churchill’s arrival heard a recording of Hitler’s voice broadcast from loudspeaker vans followed by Mr Churchill’s “we fight on the beaches” speech. A deafening outburst of cheering and shouts of “Good Old Winnie” marked Mr Churchill’s arrival. Mounted police had difficulty in clearing a way for his car. Mr Churchill after recalling that the last time he visited Birmingham was the occasion of a mass burial following f- bad blitz the night before, emphasised ihat he needed a majority to retain the Prime Ministership. “A lot of Liberals and Labourites are going about talking as though you could vote for them and it would be all right for the “Odr Man.” but as a matter of fact if you don’t give me a majority in the next Parliament T cannot undertake responsibility for the tremendous tasks ahead at home and abroad,” Mr Churchill received a tumultuous reception in the poorer districts of Birmingham where he was showered with confetti and bouquets. Work stopped at a number of factories. Women rushed forward and tried to kiss the Prime Minister. Mr CbinvV” laughed when shouts of “Gold Old Winnie.” mingled with the singing ol the Internationale by a group of workers waving the red flag. Earlier Mr Churchill arrived for a big meeting at Rugby an hour late. He was stopped so often in villages on the way. INDEPENDENT OPPONENT London, June 25. Mr Alexander Hancock. aged 46 years a farmer, is to oppose Mr Churchill in the Woodford electorate. Mr Hancock is .standing as an Independent. Trooper Arthur Yates, of the Sixteenth Armoured Division, who was flown from Austria after obtaining permission from the War Office to contest the seat against Mr Churchill, was not nominated after all. NOMINATION REFUSED (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) London. June 25. Trooper Arthur Yates who was to have opposed Mr Churchill withdrew on the ground that he had not the time to conduct a campaign. Mr Hancock’s nomination was a surprise last-minute The Rev. William Murray, head of the movement known as the Industrial State Army had his nomination refused at Ashton-under-Lyne on the ground that he is an ordained Anglican minister and thus incapable of being elected. There were many last-minute nominations. mostly by Independents, one of whom has turned Mr Herbert Morrison’s electorate at East Lewisham iato a three-cornered fight.