A SPECTATOR 'S NOTEBOOK
S0 there is to be a by-election at Wigan as well as at Camlachie. There is no likelihood of Wigan playing Labour false. The majority is so large that it may possibly be reduced, but I shall be sur- prised if on a straight fight the Conservatives come within ten thou- sand of winning. Camlachie is a different story. There the seat was held not by Labour but by the I.L.P. (which now has not a single representative in the House of Commons). Mr. Campbell Stephen had a stronger personal hold on the constituency than a new candi- date, whether Labour or I.L.P., is likely to have unless he is a well- known local man. The Conservatives will undoubtedly make a resolute bid for victory, but the East Edinburgh result does not suggest that they are making much progress in Scotland. In North East Cornwall there is apparently not to be a contest after all, Mr. Horabin having decided that the fact that he has changed his badge to Labour is no reason why he should not continue to represent the constituency to which he was elected as a Liberal. The decision, of course, rests with him in the sense that no constituency can compel its Member to resign. But obviously a very false position is created. Mr. Horabin was not elected because he was Mr. Horabin —or so I should submit—but because he was a Liberal. North East Cornwall registered decisively its desire to be represented at Westminster by a Liberal. Is it for Mr. Horabin to decide that it shall be represented by a Labour man ? Legally no doubt it is. Morally I should say emphatically not.
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