A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
AKEN by itself the drop in the Labour majority at Cleve- land meant little.. When the increase in the Government majority at Wycombe is combined with it a definite trend begins to be apparent. The country is moving, it seems, in the direction of Conservatism, not away from it. Wycombe is signi- ficant. The late Conservative member, now Lord Astor, had important local connections. The new candidate, Mr. John Hall, had virtually none. The Labour candidate had been member for six years and was well-known and liked. And normally the swing of the pendulum is away from the party in power. The Labour split no doubt counted. Liberals, who held the balance at Wycombe, had little temptation to vote for a party in which Bevanism bulks as large as the More- cambe elections (misleading though they were in some respects) would suggest. But broadly, I think, the Conservative vote came from people who were well satisfied with the way the Government had got through its first year. The financial position has substantially improved, houses are getting built, the relations between the Minister of Labour and the trade unions are excellent. Labour has nothing to offer except more nationalisation. Unless it can improve on that there is little to induce electors to vote against the Government. * * * *
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