THE LIBERAL PARTY SIR,—I have been a constant reader of
your paper for many years and, whilst not agreeing with all the opinions expressed, have always appreciated your sense of fairness.
In the June 14 issue, however, there appeared one of the most spiteful and unfair paragraphs it has ever been my misfortune to read, in the form of Taper's comments on the Liberal Party.
First of all, the party's attitude to the Suez question.
Has Taper so soon forgotten the resignations from both the Tory and the Labour Parties? I venture 'to say the Liberals have been, in the main, more united over this matter than either of the other two parties.
With reference to the policy of co-ownership : has Taper ever read the excellent pamphlets provided by the Liberal Party on this subject? It has been my misfortune at two elections to reside in constituencies where there was no Liberal candidate, and in each case, when appealing for the Liberal vote, the Tory candidate has paid lip-service to the policy of co- ownership. Is Taper prepared to accept this policy if Tory-sponsored, but only sneer if the Liberals have really concrete suggestions to make on this subject?
As regards the Edinburgh election, where the Liberal vote exceeded 7,000 (incidentally over twice as many as were received the last time a Liberal stood), Taper makes the observation that it was because 'in the person of Mr. William Douglas Home, they had a candidate who displayed a kind of intelligence.'
Precisely—and that is why Mr. Home is in the Liberal Party. If Taper will take the trouble to make himself really acquainted with the trend in the Liberal Party, he will find that the quality of its membership is extremely high. It is only necessary to take note of the Liberal strength at the Universities to get an indication.
To bunch Liberal candidates together with freaks is only on a par with the rest of Taper's remarks. He should be reminded, however, that the five Liberal MPs represent 750,000 recorded votes and, given the money to fight, there is no doubt that number could be quadrupled, although under the present electoral system it might not mean more members of Parliament.
To conclude, I would only add, 'Heaven help us if our only choice is between Tory muddling on the one side and Socialism on the other.'—Yours faith- fully,
UNREPENTANT LIBERAL
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