The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : Government
reconstruction is always a topic for discussion in the House of Commons, but The Times newspaper, on Tuesday, re- vived it in an acute form. Controversy at once centred round the reason why the leader on "Tired Ministers" should have been produced just at this moment—whether it was foreshadowing immediate Cabinet changes, or was nothing more than the personal views of Printing House Square. Some read into it a call for Lord Runciman's resignation, others for that of the Prime Minister. Innumerable lists were com- piled of Tired Ministers, and even more of those to take their place. It was being suggested that, since the Govern- ment has accepted the system of holidays with pay, and that Lord Runciman has now become its most eminent exponent, nothing could be more natural than that some of his colleagues should follow his example. Rumour has it that what The Times was advocating—and finds support in high places—is a set of alternative Cabinet Ministers, men distinguished in walks of life outside politics, who would be able temporarily to relieve our exhausted statesmen. If Lord Chatfield, why not Lord Trenchard? Lord Portal is a never- failing help in time of trouble. Even Lord Nuffield might be roped in. This project, it is said, is necessary because of the lack of potential Ministers in the Commons. The suggestion, however, was also heard that the Cabinet might shortly become a group of Elder Ministers, relieved of all departmental duties, while courses of initiation and instruc- tion would be given to carefully selected understudies.
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