S1R,—Those who maintain that the paramount objective at this election
is to ensure that the Labour (Socialist) Party is not returned to power would, if they were wise, ponder much more carefully than they do the probable influence on the achievement of this objective of adopting their reiterated proposal that the Liberal Party should withdraw its candidates. Valuable data are available to them in the latest Public Opinion Surveys. These show that (1) the Conservatives hold a lead over Labour of the order of 2 or 3 per cent, of probable votes; (2) the probable Liberal vote is now 13 per cent.; (3) that 38 per cent. of a sample group indicated that if they could have a Liberal administration that is what they would like; (4) the gain in the Liberal "vote" embraces twice as many ex-Labour votes as ex-Conservative.
Supposing all the Liberal candidates did withdraw, how would their supporters meet the situation? They would each do one of three things —vote Conservative, vote Labour or abstain. Bearing in mind that Liberals, whilst rejecting Socialism as the answer to our problems, do not consider Conservatism (even Tory Reform brand) to be the right answer either, my guess is that a majority of them would abstain from voting. It is extremely improbable that those who did vote would all vote Conservative. The one certain result would be a substantial reduc- tion in the total anti-Socialist vote, and the return of yet another thoroughly unrepresentative Parliament.—I am, &c., 4 Oxford Terrace, Edinburgh, 4.
EDWARD WALKER.
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