THE FUTURE OF THE LABOUR PARTY [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—One wonders to find Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith consoling himself after a crushing defeat by what he calls " the vital fact " that the organization of his party remains unbroken. Is not that precisely what makes the disaster all the more astounding ?
He truly says that not a single local Labour Party, not even in the Prime Minister's own constituency, followed the three leaders. But he omits to add that, of these, the two who sought re-election were, in place of being relegated to the bottom of the poll, triumphantly returned by majorities of from 6,000 to 27,000 votes.
The result of the elections was a shattering blow to official Socialism, but as Mr. Thomas has said, it was the greatest triumph for democracy ever known.
Take, for example, Dundee, the constituency from which I write. Here the omens could scarcely have seemed less favourable. No Conservative had been returned since 1832. From 1922, when Mr. Churchill was defeated, the two seats were easily held by Mr. Scrymgeour, an ardent Prohibitionist, but scarcely a serious politician, and a Socialist colleague.
Few towns have suffered more from industrial depression than Dundee. There were 30,000 unemployed, or 1 out of 6 of a population of 180,000. Before the election processions paraded the streets under a banner inscribed " Class against Class," by way of protest against any reduction in the dole. And yet, when the Election came, how did the voting go ?
Two Government supporters were returned, one of whom (Miss Horsbrugh) had for many months done splendid spade- work, while the other (Mr. Foot) came, and saw, and conquered in the course of a fortnight's campaign.
A Socialist majority of 14-16,000 became one of 10-19,000 for Unionist Liberals. There has been nothing like it since Sennacherib or the Spanish Armada !
All honour, then, to the shrewd Scotsmen and women who pricked the windbags and put country before what seemed (but only seemed) to be their own private and personal inter- ests !—I am, Sir, &c.,
" Ex UNO DISCS OMNES."
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