Labour and Sir Stafford The expulsion of Sir Stafford Cripps
and his four partners in heresy from the Labour Party was ratified at the South- port Conference this week by an overwhelming majority of 2,100,000 to 402,000 ; and among the 900 delegates only two could be found to speak in his defence. In the address he was permitted to make to the Conference, Sir Stafford Eased his case not on•the value and importance of the Popular Front but on the legality of the methods he has adopted for' propagating his views ; he seemed thereby to admit that the Popular Front is no longer an idea to which he can hope to win over a majority of the party. After the vote Sir Stafford is reported to have said that it was evident that the party did not want him. It is equally evident that it does not want the Popular Front either. There is no doubt that the party prefers co-operation with the Government to co-operation with Liberals and Communists. It is therefore the more surprising that Sir Stafford, believing as he does, should have forthwith applied for -readmission to the party. The organi- sation he has set up is to be dissolved, and the Executive, which has triumphantly maintained the unity of the party in the face of Sir Stafford's challenge, should feel strong enough to re-admit him and his followers. But apart from the merits of the controversy, and the undoubted virtues of Sir Stafford himself, there is a sense of irritation that so much time should be spent on " the Cripps question." * * * *
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