Orders are Orders Si,' Frank Med!icon. MP,
Rev, Timothy Raphael, R. F. Nelder
And Now Nyasaland Dennis Phombeah Frank Harris Vincent Brome,
Michael loot, Derek Parker
Head of the Commonwealth Lord A Itriachant D. H. Lawrence F. R. Learis The Casement Diaries Admiral Sir W. M. .lames,
Frank O'Connor, Lord Pakenham
ITV Commercials /an Trethowan Yang,se Gunboats Cmindr. G. R. Fuller, RN (Reid.) Electric Shavers A. R. Al. Sedgwick Censorship in Ireland B. MacMahon The Case .Against the Architect lames K. Scots
ORDERS ARE ORDERS
SIR,-1 have read your article 'Orders arc Orders' with interest. After the immediate, heat over Suez had abated, it should have been apparent to the consti- tuency associations, both in Bournemouth. East and Norfolk Central, that it was the wish of the Party leaders in Parliament that the vendetta against Nicolson and me should be discontinued. I am assum- ing, of course, that in fact the Party leaders indicated to the constituency leaders that it was not to be desired that we should be sacrificed because of our opinions. In neither case however, did the constituency asso- ciations take the slightest notice. In any event the interests of the Party should, also have enjoined a more liberal attitude. In fact none of these factors weighed with the constituency associations: Nasser and Dulles and•Gaitskell were all out of reach; some- body had to be beaten up and Nicolson and I were available.
Although the constituency associatiqns lay such stress on discipline and adherence to leadership, there is little discipline discernible in their own conduct, and they arrogate to themselves the right to decide that a Member has failed to support the Party, even though the Party Whips may never even have sug- gested the withdrawal of the Party Whip.
'My own experience throughout was that in the House I was treated, by the Party leaders and by the Whips and by my Conservative colleagues, with courtesy and understanding. Outside the House, I was treated by the Constituency Association, by the Area Organisation and by the Central Office as though I were a political leper.
There is a divergence here to which I can do no more than draw attention. The result, however, is that Members who act as Nigel Nicolson and I acted are apparently to be regarded by the Party organisation as 'expendable.' Whether this can be regarded as in the ultimate interests of the Party is at least open to question.—Yours faithfully, FRANK MEDLICOTE Home of Commons, SW 1
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