16 JUNE 1933, Page 6

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Sir Stafford Cripps andMr. Lansbury between them look like ensuring their party a protracted spell of opposition. The more they talk of overriding the veto (only a sus- pensory veto after all) of the House of Lords, and rushing through an Emergency Powers Act to enable the Labour Cabinet to do what it will,the more resolute the average citizen will be against casting any vote that might make a Labour Cabinet a possibility. Sir 'Stafford Cripps, who has just been elected President of the left-wing Socialist League, is satisfied that the present Parliamen- tary machine is effete and that methods much more summary must be substituted, while Mr. Lansbury, whose main quarrel is with the " money lords," discusses the situation that would arise if " such people " attempted to suborn the police and armed forces from their duty. This is windy enough, stuff, and men like Mr. Henderson and the Trades Union Congress leaders preach a .very different gospel, but it will make quite enough impression in the country to do the Labour. Party definite harm. Never was it more essentially this country's business to show that the Parliamentary machine can and does work than it is today. It was only by a policy of working con7 stitutionally through Parliament that the Labour Party ever got into office at all.