LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
" LIBERAL STOCKTAKING "
Snt,—The paistgraph in the " Spectator's Notebook " on March 22nd on the Liberal stocktaking was both timely and pertinent in its probing of the real problem of the Liberal Party—is it worth reorganising? As a detached observer of no particular party I venture to suggest four pre- requisites for the Liberal Party's survival. First, it must overcome the natural reluctance of the British political system to tolerate more than two main parties. Whether it can do so depends on the extent to which it is successful in facing its next three problems. Secondly, it must succeed in uniting all its three groups. No one will feel it worth while to continue his support to a disunited and ineffective party except for sentimental reasons. Thirdly, having become united, the revived Liberal Party must attract to itself the enlightened Conservatives and the disillusioned Socialists and forge a really vigorous " Centre " or " Progressive " Party. Two M.P.'s, Mr. Henderson Stewart and Captain Marples, have recently preached similar gospel outside the House, and the way is open for the Liberal Party's " Crusade " to take over where they have left off. And, fourthly, the " Crusade " must have a policy—a sane appreciation of the political needs of today and tomorrow, but not of yesterday, knit together into the distinctive combination of social justice and individual freedom which is surely the great Liberal contribution to British politics.
If it can achieve the above fundamental objects, the Liberal Party faces its greatest opportunity to become effective again. In putting a Labour Government in office last summer the " floating vote," which in effect holds the balance of power, took one of its periodical and momentous strides towards greater social justice and a more international outlook. The Conservative Party will ignore this change at its peril—yet no realisation of this by its present controllers is apparent. On the other hand, with the basic industries nationalised and a more equitable distribu- tion of income assured after the next few years of Labour Government, the " floating vote " will shrink from the ever-tightening hold of bureau- cracy that a further term of Socialist government will involve. That is the chance which all those of a progressive outlook should galvanise the Liberal Party into taking. The alternatives are either a Conservative change of heart or another ten years of Socialism ; and, since the former seems unlikely and the latter unfortunate, there are grounds for hoping that the Liberal Party's contribution to this country's destiny is not yet
ended.—Yours faithfully, C. G. COLCLOUGH. Rivers End, Laleham-on-Thames, Middlesex.
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