British Labour Party A Largely United Body After Annual Conference

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26778, 22 May 1948, Page 7

British Labour Party A Largely United Body After Annual Conference

From A. W. Mitchell, New Zealand Press Association Special Correspondent. Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, May 21. The British Labour Party has had a successful conference at the ancient seaside town of Scarborough, where you may see some of the castle ruins that Oliver Cromwell knocked about a bit, and the neat, orderly house where Richard 111 lived. Anybody who went to Scarborough hoping or expecting to see the party itself knocked about was doomed to disappointment, for the only ones who suffered such treatment were those who, like “our Zilli,” as Mr Attlee referred to Mr K. Ziliiacus, were out—or stepping out on their own.

In saying this it would, of course, be an exaggeration to claim that everybody in the party was now in complete accord. They are not—any more than they are in any other political party. But it was plain to see that those who tag all critics as rebels and all divisions of opinion as splits in the party, were talking so much nonsense.

With all their differences, over what share workers shall have in running nationalised industries, how nationalisation of steel shall be achieved, whether Sir- Stafford Cripps and the T.U.C. are being firm enough over profits, whether the Government’s policy on Palestine is correct, and so forth, in spite of all these differences the Labour Party is largely a united

body. It knows, for at least two reasons, that it has got to be—first, it dare not have another attack of “ MacDonalditis,” and secondly, a disunited party would be flattened at the next general election.

It is true that the Labour Party's house may be not so neat, orderly, nor so mellowed with time as that of Richard 111, but any untidiness or rawness may be chiefly attributable to the fact that as a social revolutionary force some of its elements are seeking more “ revolutionary ” action than others deem advisable or necessary. Left and Right Elements

There is a decided Left Wing as well as Right. On the Right are the mature heads of the Attlees, the Morrisons, the Bevins and others backed firmly, and this was a point clearly brought out at the conference, by such influential trade union leaders as Mr Arthur Deakin, of the Transport and General Workers’ Union. To men like Mr Herbert Morrison, the Labour Party owes a great deal. Intelligent, shrewd and calm, Mr Morrison keeps one eye on his party, noting its moods and ambitions, and the other eye on the

general public and the future. Having got the Labour Party on the highway to Socialism, he wants to keep it in the middle of the road to make sure of steady progress over the long journey. He does not want it to go lurching all over the place in an attempt to work up speed. Too much speed, he obviously feels, may well land it in the gutter. Among the most influential men on the Left are “ Nye ” Bevan. whose popularity with the rank and file is immense. Mr Hugh Dalton, and the young Mr Michael Foot, who has been elected to the executive. Mr Emanuel Shinwell, another man very popular with the party, might also be included in this group. As chairman, he handled the conference with skill, humour and wit, and to watch him in that role is to form an entirely different opinion of the man who occasionally lets loose a tinker’s cuss and whose other forms of public speaking sometimes embarrass his colleagues. Generally speaking this group wants more Socialism more quickly, but at the moment it seems that with a general election around the corner it will be guided by the now grey-haired Mr Morrison. It can be looked to for occasional provocative comments —for instance, Mr Bevan’s attacks on the press. How serious he is in these attacks is not certain for he must know if the Tory press displays certain easy virtue in commenting on the Labour Party, the Labour press, and'not at least the Daily Herald, is by no means a Caesar’s wife. Mr Dalton’s Influence Mr Dalton appears to be becoming more Left in his views as his ardour to return to Cabinet rank increases. He is an influential member of the party and one would say only fairly, popular. Some think he may achieye his ambition by October, though in what capacity, it is not sure. Scarborough’s bracing air, it can be said, “ has toned up the Labour Party.” But, as The Times points out, if the gap in Britainls balance payments cannot be closed, if the standard of life has to be forced down further, if unemployment mounts because imports cannot be bought, the scene may change out of recognition. It is small wonder then that there was hardly any conference criticism of America as compared with last year; but that many Labour voices were raised in calling Marshall aid blessed.