14 JANUARY 1938, Page 3

The Parliamentary Scene Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : 1937 was

not a good year for the Parliamentary Labour Party. It reached the lowest depths of depression in July when the decision was taken to abstain on the service estimates. Since the Bournemouth Conference there has been some measure of recovery. Internal differences have been reconciled at any rate for the moment. Sir Stafford Cripps has returned to the Front Bench and although he may still be a liability in the constituencies, he is unquestionably the official Oppo- sition's greatest asset in debate. After the series of failures in the " miniature General Election " in the summer, Dr. Haden Guest's victory in Islington seemed to indicate a distinct rise in the party's stock. The rank and file both at Westminster and elsewhere are in much better heart than they were six months ago.

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