It is not, I hope, sadistic to observe that the
voters of Great Britain have shown no less sagacity in their decision as to whom not to re-elect than in whom to elect Not only the Communists have gone, but with them the whole covey of fellow-travellers, together with one or two to whom that name is not always attached, as it might be. The number might profitably have been increased by one or two, but there may be another election soon. The vagaries of the electors of Cheltenham and Rugby I can only deplore unreservedly There is no good case for more than a handful of independent members of the House of Commons, but there is a case for that, and in Daniel Lipson and W. J. Brown the House loses two men whose contribution to debate and to personal discussion outside the Chamber was of the highest order. Mr. Lipson, who was at one time an Independent Conservative and then an Independent pure and simple, spoke with special authority on education and local government. No man in the House was more respected. W. J. Brown is better known, since he writes as well as speaks. Fearless, well-informed (patticularly on
trade union matters), quick in the uptake and with a lively sense of humour, he leaves by his absence a gap which no one else is likely to fill as well. Party men who fell are in rather a different category. Of them, Frank Byers, the Liberal Whip, will get more sympathy from more parts of the House than any other victim.
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