The selection of the Home Secretary as Deputy-Leader of the
House of Commons is one of those appointments that will give equal satisfaction on all benches. Mr. Chuter Ede possesses precisely the combination of firmness, reasonableness and humour which make for the smooth transaction of business and the acquiescent acceptance of what are sometimes distasteful decisions. Of the various cross- combinations when business is discussed Ede-Eden is likely to represent the maximum of placidity and Churchill-Morrison the minimum. It may be assumed that in his capacity of Home Secre- tary Mr. Ede will be piloting one of the major measures of the session, the Criminal Justice Bill. It was dropped by consent from the overloaded programme in the King's Speech a year ago, but there will be considerable surprise as well as considerable disappoint- ment if its introduction is not announced next week.
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