3 JANUARY 1941, Page 7

Parties are a national convenience, but they are not an

end in themselves. They are kept alive by revolts from within and attacks from without. In the formative periods they often come under the domination of a single man who restates the issues, and causes new alignments. There is evidence that we are living through such a period now. I foresee a growing intolerance with the vested interests of parties, to some extent an intolerance with all politicians and the ways of Parliament.