29 OCTOBER 1948, Page 5

I referred last week to the diversity of views, including

a diversity of Mr. Churchill's own views, as to what label Mr. Churchill wore when he stood in the historic by-election in the Abbey Division of Westminster in 1924. I now have before me the election address he issued on that occasion—an authority against which there can be no appeal. On the whole, it confirms my suggestion that in fact Mr. Churchill in reality stood simply as Mr. Churchill. The only relevant phrase in the address' runs, "I am a Liberal who wishes to work with the Conservative Party in strong resistance to this menacing attack [Socialism]." It must, I fancy, have been the last time the candidate described himself as a Liberal.