Long Shot at Power
The final agenda for the fifty-third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, which will open at the Spa Grand Hotel Scarborough on Monday, September 27, is not exciting reading but it does suggest some interesting reflections on the position of Mr. Bevan. It contains on the one hand fifty-eight resolu' tions on German rearmament of which all but two deplore condemn or view with grave concern the official policy it favour of rearmament. It contains on the other hand a list of supporters for Mr. Gaitskell and Mr. Bevan in their -figh for the treasurership. On this form, Mr. Gaitskell will win at a canter. Between these conflicting omens, the truth about the state of Bevanism is to be found. Mr. Bevan as a man as a potential leader of the Labour Party, as a potential Print( Minister of England, is eschewed by the solid body of hi! party which is, and will remain, the non-Communist Track Unions. Mr. Bevan as a speaker of marvellous rhetoric ha! stolen a prominence and a position of influence to which he has no claim. The main question at Scarborough will be tc decide whether that stolen prominence is strong enough tc challenge and seriously to maim the present leadership. Bu l the probable election of Mr. Gaitskell as Treasurer suggest! that in the end, leadership will ultimately devolve on Mr Gaitskell. And this, at least, is something to be cheerful about One day, in the normal course of political life, there will bg another Labour Government. There are many Lebow politicians who would make a worse Prime Minister, very fee alive at .the moment who would make a better.
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