David and Goliath
From the Revd Harold S. Goodwin Sir: Bill Grundy's article (Spectator, June ,14) sent me back to the 17th chapter of the 2nd Book of Samuel. Could I hope that we had in Ross McWhirter the new David we so desperately need: that when he stood up and fought two purveyors of corruption,; he was rehearsing, like David with the lion and the bear, for the coming fight to the death with a bawling, blustering philistine giant? Four years ago, in the pulpit of Westminster Abbey, I presented 'A Christian commentary on industrial relations', and I said that, sooner or later, Parliament would have to outlaw strikes. Every month that has since passed has made it more difficult for Parliament to take up the challenge of trade union power and its ruthless exercise. But, no matter how difficult it becomes, it still is true that that intolerable power will have to be brought under social discipline, as many an earlier tyranny has had to be tackled in our history.
In. the end, somebody must stand up to Goliath and fight.
That is not a new discovery. Prime Minister Harold Wilson, in his day, called Barbara Castle to his side as armour-bearer, and prepared for battle. But Goliath just went on bawling defiance, and they ran away. Prime Minister Edward Heath then entered the lists and actually stripped for battle. But he too got dressed again when Goliath roared the louder.
Today there is not one MP in any party who pretends to 'have the guts' (in Harold Wilson's elegant phrase) to stand up to Goliath and fight. Yet sooner or later he will have to be fought.
Heaven be thanked, then, for the emergence of one who looks as though he might be a David. Harold S. Goodwin 8 Roughdown Villas Road, Hemel Hempstead.
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