By the decision of Wing-Commander Millington, M.P., to resign from
Common Wealth and join Labour the House of Commons loses one of its fourteen parties and Common Wealth loses its only member of that House. The number fourteen, which I take from an official publication, may sound surprising. Actually 582 Members belong to two parties, and 56 to the other twelve. (If it is objected that 582 and 56 do not add up to 64o, the explanation is that two seats were vacant when the list was compiled.) Of the fourteen, three contain—or contained till Wing-Commander Millington's defec- tion—one member each, four contain two members each, and one contains three members. The two-party system, therefore, is not fatally impaired. Wing-Commander Millington, it may be added, is an able and respected member of the House, and Labour will gain substantially by his adhesion. Though his rank is as I have stated, the Speaker, in calling him for a question a week or so ago, addressed him inadvertently as " Air-Commodore." The Wing- Commander, with a quiet smile, said " Thank you, Sir."
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