A SPECTATOR 'S NOTEBOOK
THE keynote of the Liberal " inquest " at the week-end seems to have been abundant optimism, based on the alertness and keen- ness displayed by numbers of young potential candidates. That is no doubt encouraging, but it is impossible to forget that it was precisely these manifestations which formed the basis of the predictions— running from a minimum estimate of 8o seats upwards—before an election in which out of 305 candidates 12 were returned. Is the situation really any different now? It may be, but it is not easy to divine the reason for thinking so. It was argued that electors would not vote for Liberals, since the Liberal Party, even if every candidate standing was returned, could not form a Government. Again, is that likely to be substantially different next time? Even the loyal Manchester Guardian is compelled to recognise that the root of the trouble is that the Liberals have no distinctive policy to differentiate them sufficiently from moderate Labour on the one hand and progressive Conservatism on the other. If Labour became less and less moderate, and Conservatism less and less pro- gressive, then the country might well turn to Liberalism as its salva- tion. But to be compelled to base hopes of survival mainly on other people's mistakes is not a very stimulating prospect.
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