THE GOLDEN CHANCE
SIR,-Mr. David Ormsby Gore, in his article on 'The Golden Chance' suggests that one of the reasons for the Government's failure to 'take the tide at the flood' is the lameness of the alternative suggestions of policy as ad- vanced by the Labour Party in opposition. A lively and constructive opposition is indeed the essence of good parliamentary government and I would be the last to suggest that the Labour Party has, for the first time in its history, displayed that measure of responsi- bility in opposition which, we trust, will one day signal its full political maturity. But the first prerequisite of good government is surely leadership, and this can only come from the party in power.
The new Elizabethan age, to which Mr. Ormsby Gore refers, means, if it means any- thing at all, a new confidence reflected in leadership, in leadership based on courage, courage great enough, in this instance, to advance a sound fiscal policy for the country irrespective of whether such a policy is im- mediately popular. The dilemma appears to be one not so much of intellect as of character. It is not only difficult, it is impossible at the moment to detect leadership, based on any semblance of conviction, in either of the two chambers which constitute our Parliament. If the Government is unable to discover for itself a sense of conviction its term of office will be judged a failure. Failure can be partial or complete; it can either be honourable or dis- honoured. The suggestion that Government has failed due to the inertia or ineptitude of its opposition can only be taken as a confession of failure in the absolute: a confession in any case which 11 suggest is possibly premature.— Yours faithfully, 31 Brompton Square, SW3
MICHAEL ASTOR
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