The County Weathercock
There was a time when it was very difficult to judge from county council elections which way the political wind was blowing, since local issues and personalities were often dominant. It has been kss difficult since the Labour Party has insisted on importing national classifications into local politics, and it is quite certain that last week's vote in the counties was a deliberate vote against Labour administration. The net loss of Labour seats was 293, in 1,941 con- tested elections. And that is a heavy fall. But there are other lessons to be learned from this result. Whatever the activities of national party headquarters in London, local electors still tend to vote on those issues and persons which affect them most directly m their everyday lives. The fatal vagueness and impersonality of national measures, such as the health scheme or the food subsidy system, is not so pervasive in local politics. The county electors have not been voting against Socialist principles and doctrines, but rather against Socialist administration as it can be observed in action on their own doorsteps. Before the Conservatives start con- gratulating themselves too cordially, or becoming too sanguine about the possibilities of the next General Election, they will do well to think carefully about that fact. If the Conservative agents and candi- dates are willing to do the hard work of interpreting national policies to the electors in concrete and realistic terms, they pretty certainly stand to gain votes. This was no rural reaction, for the vast suburbs of Middlesex and .Essex also voted against Labour in force. The floating rote is on the move. Communists? Obliterated.
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