BRITISH POLITICAL STAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICAL STAGE

Conservative Revival Doubtful Labour’s Popularity Shaded N.Z.P.A.—Special Correspondent (9.15 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 4. The curtain is about to «o up, with the new session of Parliament next week, on a fresh scene in British politics. Before it does so something in the nature of an interesting inquest is being held to-morrow on an event of the now dead, but by no means forgotten, preceding act. It is a conference of those Conservative Partv members defeated at the General Election, who agreed to meet, let down their hair and have “a frank exchange of views.” Particular interest will be taken in this occasion, which will be private, but from which some news doubtless will emanate. There are many indications that the Conservative Party is by no means one big happy family. On the contrary, it is introspective, it is undecided as to why it lost the election and also apparently as to what its future policy shall be. Mr Michael Foot, M.P., columnist of the “Daily Herald,” with typical picturesqueness declares that the Tories are in a shocking temper and that not all their public school training has enabled them to take their licking with a stiff upper lip. This is rather malicious exaggeration. But that there are differences has been indicated by Mr Quintin Hogg, one of the Conservative Reform Group, who has made it plain that he and his group believe that the party was led to suicide through the influence of “Old Guard.” and also by Lieutenant-Colonel Sinclair, who resigned the Conservative candidature for East Edinburgh on finding a division in the party between “those members whose object is to reform and those whose object is to preserve.” Conservative Prespects So far some of the most direct comment on the Conservative Party has been made by Mr Arthur Mann, former editor of the “Yorkshire Post,” who angered Mr Neville Chamberlain when he opposed the policy of appeasement in pre-war years. He expresses the opinion that the Conservative Party will not be revived automatically by a swing of the political pendulum, that if the present Government fails to live up to its expectations the result may not be a Conservative triumph but a new challenge from the extreme Left, or, possibly, “a resurgence of political Liberalism." There can be little doubt, he continues, that the nation as a whole no longer has any use for the type of Conservatism connected in the public mind with the era of moral stagnation in domestic politics and tragic failure in foreign affairs. The Conservative Party was certainly not of the people, but suspected rightly or wrongly of having little inclination to act for the people. It became an instrument for promoting the interests and safeguarding the profits of the employing class, whose background and outlook led them to conduct the affairs of State as they would a business deal. The Labour. Party for all its faults was in closer touch with the people of Britain and had a truer understanding of their feelings, Mr Mann continued. He is cf the opinion that* the first requirement for a Conservative comeback is that the Party should be reconstructed in such a way that it rests upon free and equal association between men and women in every walk of life. It must also incorporate in its programme certain dynamic principles and policies designed to promote the happiness and prosperity of the whole community. • Labour Party Watched There is no doubt that, in the days ahead, the Conservative Party will be watched closely for any sign of a change in its attitude in the same way as Labour will be watched ’ for its ability to govern. It has been said that since the election the Government has, in effect, slipped a cog in the public estimation by reason of' its inability to implement its programme pledges. Mr Richard Law has said as much and the Conservatives are evidently embarking on a cry of “Churchill would not have allowed this to happen,” when anything goes wrong or hitches occur. . If by-elections are anything to go by. this type of criticis: is not cutting any ice with the electors, for both byelections this week show increased Labour majorities. Incipient criticism of the Government over demobilisation has also been nipped in the bud by the newlyannounced scheme, which has been generally well received. Indications are that the public are not going to be particularly impressed, at least in the near future, by criticisms of the Government failing to do this or that, for such is the lingering antipathy towards the Conservatives that the feeling is. “They certainly would not have done much better themselves, no matter W WhileThtTconservatives are havine their internal, as well as external troubles the Labour Party is not going to be entirely free from them Tffev are likely to relate to the pace at which the Socialist policy is implemented bj the Government. Mr Attlee, it a stated, has cautioned “not too much and not too quickly, and this is i not going to suit some of the more extreme Labour members. It is forecast that much of the task of restra l" ,n s ‘S enthusiasm will fall on Mi Herbert Morrison who is increasingly regarded as the dominant figure in the party and second in line to Mr Attlee.