28 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 2

The Manchester Guardian correspondent thinks that the explanation must be

that, contrary to the calcula- tions of official Liberalism, the average Liberal voter does not like any alliance with the Government. Although the Labour candidate in East Islington was returned by a majority of more than 2,000, the Labour vote was reduced by one-third. The Unionist vote, if we place under that head the votes for both Miss Cazalet and General Critchley, increased by about 2,000, but owing to the division this increase was wasted. The • Empire Free Trade chorus did not impress the voters enough to carry the day, but it was absolutely successful in preventing the Unionist Party from getting nearer to the goal which the Empire Free Traders call their own. • *