Wanted, a Centre Group ?
Mr. Frank Byers' suggestion of the formation of a new Centre Group, . composed of Left Wing Conservatives, Liberals and Right Wing Labour, has its attractions, principally no doubt for Liberals, who would see their three million or so votes in the country becoming effective by other means than the support of (from their point of view) second- best candidates. The idea of a Centre Party of this type is, of course, not new. It took quite definite shape, for example, in 1910, with Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Churchill and Lord Birkenhead as its chief advocates. It is today a commonplace that on all foreign policy, and over a large part of the domestic field, there is much identity of thought between the Tory Left, the Labour Right and Liberals. Admittedly almost all members of the Labour Party are Socialists and believe profoundly in nationalisation, but even here outlines are being blurred, for the Conservative Government contemplates a limited association of the State in the control of 'such industries as iron and steel, and is leaving Labour's nationalisation achievements untouched as far as coal and railways and communications and the Bank of England are concerned. Conservatives might, of course, comment that things-are going very well as they are; that they have no extreme Right Wing capable of constituting any serious drag on the party; and that the progressive outlook of the Left Wing is making a growing impression on the country. But it is as well to look ahead. Another General Election might give one party or the other as narrow a majority as the 1950 election did. It will do no harm for moderate men of all parties to be consider- ing in advance what their duty in such an event might be.
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