A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK T HE Government has reason to be extremely
satisfied with its majority of 38 in the first division of the new Parlia- ment on Monday (followed the next day by one of 37), particularly since one or two of its supporters, like Mr. Eden, were abroad, and three of its supporters, the Speaker, the Chairman and the Deputy-Chairman of Committees, are disabled from voting ; this latter handicap is, of course, per- manent. The Liberals, as was to be expected, voted with the Government, and a singular and unusual lapse by Mr. Attlee must be regarded in present circumstances as peculiarly impolitic. Both parties are still, and will be for long, contending for Liberal votes. That Liberals "say one thing at one election and another at the next. You never know where you are or how far they are behind you. We all know that manifestos from that side of the House don't mean anything," may or may not be true ', but if you want to persuade a man to walk with you, it is not usual to begin by clouting him on the head. It may be that Labour has decided on open war on the Liberals. That would account for the suggestion that Labour opposition to the nomination of Mr. Hopkin Morris as Speaker meant refusal to have a Liberal at any price. * * * *
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