Mr. Bevan, with all If is defects, does not often
lose sight of common decency as completely as he did in the discussion on the flood disaster in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Here was something almost unprecedented in English history, with a death-roll of over 250 mounting hourly as persons listed as missing were found in fact to be drowned—and Mr. Bevan's part was to make a violent party attack on the Government for having issued a circular six months ago warning local authorities that in view of the steel shortage coast protection works would have, except in cases of urgency, to be slowed down. Mr. Morrison had already called attention to the circular in quite reasonable tones and the Home Secretary had answered him courteously. Mr. Bevan, as his manner is, imported a completely different tone into the discussion. The dead were lost sight of, party conflict was joined. The loud cheers which greeted the Speaker's wise words: " I was anxious to prevent what is a great national disaster from becoming a party matter " were evidence of how (a great part of the House at any rate viewed the intervention. I It is never safe to assume that Mr. Bevan has really touched bottom.
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