BRITISH LABOUR

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR

RE SHUFFLE OF SEATS MR RAMSAY MACDONALD’S POSITION “SAFE” CONSTITUENCY SOUGHT (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Rugby, May 24. It is announced that the National Executive of the Labour Party has warmly endorsed the opinion expressed by the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Labour Party regarding the desirability of Mr Ramsay Macdonald, the Leader of the Party, being transferred from his present seat at Aberavon to a new constituency. It is felt that the responsibilities for the Parliamentary leadership, and the demands made upon Mr Macdonald’s energy and time by the Labour movement, and especially the strain involved in the conduct of a national campaign during the general election, have rendered it imperative that Mr Macdonald should be relieved as far as possible from the additional labour arising out of a personal campaign which would be required in Aberavon. Accordingly the executive considers his transfer to a more easily worked constituency to be in the best interests of the Party. The Hon. Sydney Webb (Labour), intends to retire from the Seaham Division of Durham, which he has held by a large majority, and it is suggested that Mr Macdonald may be invited to stand for this constituency. It has been stated in Labour circles that the leaders of the other parties occupy safe seats. Mr Baldwin, the Conservative leader, was returned unopposed at the last election for the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire, and Mr Lloyd George, the Liberal Leader, had a majority of 12,600 at Carnarvon. It has therefore been urged that Mr Macdonald should not be placed at a disadvantage in having a hard fight at Aberavon.—British Official Wireless.