TENSIONS ON THE LEFT SIR,—Labour won the election and the
time is hardly ripe for a realignment on the left, a Lib-Lab pact or anything like that. But in due course we may get some interesting tensions and situations. For example:
I. Defence. One of these days troops will be required to quell a rebellion or withstand aggression somewhere, e.g. Malaysia. The left will not like this. In fact the left does not really like troops at all unless they are rebelling themselves. But Mr. George Brown, for example, takes a different view and is not afraid to express it.
2. Europe. De Gaulle may try to take France out of the Common Market or eventually concede that he is not immortal and die. A closer link with Europe will then become practical and necessary politics. Mr. Roy Jenkins and Mr. W. T. Rogers will see this, but will Mr. Jay and Mr. Wedgwood Benn?
3. The Unions. Mr. Wilson has gained his small victory partly because of supp6rt from the younger managers and technologists. These people want an end to restrictive practices on both sides of industry. Eventually they will collide with the TUC cart- horses—particularly the colts on the left who think that union reform in a capitalist society is right- wing treachery.
PHILIP SKELSEY 32B Abbey Road, NW8
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