Stn.—Those of us who are fearful of that new Leviathan,.
the Party Machine, have been disturbed by the leading article 'Orders are Orders' in your issue of March 6. You state that 'the constituency associa- tions of Bournemouth East and Norfolk Central . . . have acted within their constitutional rights.' Have electors no such rights? Are Members of Parliament delegates of a constituency association or representa- tives of an electorate? Mr. Nigel Nicolson and Sir Frank- Medlicott were elected to Parliament by a majority in their respective electorates. How can they resign to a constituency association? It was surely improper of Mr. Nicolson to offer to do so.
It is understandable that a party' should choose to remove anyone who is in a position to say 'I told you so,' but let us not allow them to salve their consciences with the term 'constitutional rights.' a a
Member neglects his duty to his constituency there may be good reason for replacing him, but there is no suggestion that these men have done so. We may well wonder how many honest men will be deterred from embarking upon a parliamentary career by reflecting upon the treatment meted out to these two Members. Are we to conclude that the candidates put up in their places cannot ever be relied upon to vote according to their consciences in a matter of high principle?— Yours faithfully.
TIMOTHY RAPHAEL 75 St. George's Square, SW I
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