Spectator's Notebook
TOWARDS the end of last week a curious rumour was to be heard in the lobbies at Westminster. 'Woodrow,' it went, 'is weakening.' Of course, this did not refer to Mr. Wyatt's state of health (excellent, as it happens), but to his privately expressed intention of voting against the Steel Bill. Mr. Wyatt, I am assured, has not changed his mind one bit. On.present form he still intends to vote both against the Bill and against the White Paper which is due to be published early next week; and Mr. Desmond Don- nelly still intends to abstain. This, in theory, cancels the Government's majority. What will happen? Not many MPs take seriously the story that, if Mr. Wilson is defeated on steel, he intends to hold an election. Nationalisation is hardly a rousing battle-cry. Besides, it would be rather ludicrous to go to the country because of defec- tions by one's own side on a particular, limited issue. Not everyone seems to have realised the full significance of the White Paper. No one can pretend that the arguments for and against steel nationalisation need yet another airing. The White Paper is surely Mr. Wilson's method of taking the political temperature. If it is defeated on a vote in the House of Commons, then the Govern- ment have to re-think their course. Having demonstrated their doctrinal purity, they can quietly forget about steel. Or they can com- promise. Or they can press on to a defeat on the Bill itself. Of course, there remains the possibility that the White Paper will turn out in the end to be acceptable to the Labour rebels. All Mr. Wyatt has said he is against is 'old-fashioned .nationalisaJtion.' The Conservatives, for their part, intend to force their 'hybrid' point : when a measure picks out' particular individuals or
concerns then various private Bill procedures apply, and a great deal of time is lost. Since the Steel Bill will specify certain firms, 'hybridity' will be an issue: and probably a most explosive one.
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