5 JUNE 1971, Page 7

Madmen, fanatics, saints

Tory members of parliament—possibly con- trary to the general impression—are much more susceptible to the feelings of their local chairmen, their constituents, and indeed the public generally. And it is, of course, one thing to go against your party if you know that nevertheless you are going with your constituents and the public. It is quite another (and most undemocratic) thing to go against party, constituents and public all at once, and is the action of a madman, fanatic Or saint. We do not really want to be governed, or indeed represented, by mad- men. fanatics or saints: we want politicians who are serious about politics. If Maccles- field produces another Bromsgrove result, it should increase the present small but grow- ing number of serious politicians;