Trust the people
rr he suggestion that the main parties I should agree not to contest by- elections caused by terrorist outrages has a superficial attraction. The IRA ought not to be allowed to bring about the fall of a government by blowing up MPs from the governing party: let us therefore ensure that when they do blow up individuals such as Sir Anthony Berry, the victims are replaced by members from the same par- ties. The democrats who dream up such innovations do not, however, pause to consider the contempt they show for the electorate by presuming to take .such deci- sions on its behalf. If it is the popular will that the IRA should not be able to change the strength of the parties in the Com- mons, would it not be more convincing to demonstrate the fact by holding a con- tested by-election? There is no precedent . for not contesting a seat such as Sir Anthony Berry's. Enfield Southgate, if it were not now contested, would establish a new practice, one which might work well enough in safe seats like Sir Anthony's (he won 26,500 votes to the Liberal's 10,600 and the Socialist's 8,100), but would prove extremely contentious in seats where the opposition parties believed they had a better chance of winning. It would be better for official candidates to stand at Enfield, making it clear (as any but the most shameless would) that they did not expect to profit from Sir Anthony's mur- der. They would gain popularity by wel- coming defeat. The next member for En- field should be elected, not by means of a deal, however well-intentioned, between the party hierarchies, but by the electors of Enfield.
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