The Press WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1920. British Politics.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16725, 7 January 1920, Page 6

The Press WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1920. British Politics.

No doubt many people at this distance from Britain will be surprised to hear that one result of the Spen Valley byelection is a discussion of the possibility of a Labour Government. This is not tho first time such a possibility has been mentioned, however. After the Widnes election tho "Manchester Guardian," suddenly becoming alarmed about tho condition of the Liberal Party, said that the country ought to be told wholher Labour "feels strong enougfi "to fight its battle single-handed, " and to constitute a Ministry out of " Labour elements alone." Tho "Guardian" evidently thought that Labour could not hopo for such suecons, ond it urged that Labour and "progressive Liberalism" should join farces. A month later the signal defeat of a very able Liberal, Mr l'ringle, at Rusholme, caused further misgivings amongst the Liberals. The "Nation" insisted thdt Liberal policy was reviving, and that Sir- Asquith had given it something of a lead, "but," it felt obliged to add, " the true Liberal rally awaits the " inspiration of a messago with soul in "it, as well as the calculations of "party advantage." Other Radical journals of standing were unable to hold out any hope to tho Liberal Party. Liberalism, tho "New Statesman" said in its comments on ■ Rusholme, "has survived longer in this " country than elsewhere, because here " it has had a constructive programme. "But that appears to bo no longer '• true."

While there doe 9 not appear to be any good prospect of an active and successful future for the liberal Party, it appears to be just as unlikely that tho Conservative Party can regain its position. Tho strength of tho Conservatives has been in the support of tho middlo classes, bat those people are now suffering severely from the effects of the war and from the extra vaganco of the Government they elected in December, 1918. They are changing their allegiance, as all the byelections have made clear, but what is not quite clear is whether tho Liberal Party or tho Labour Party will be tho gainer. The outlook for neither nf tho two main parties is very good. There remains tho Labour Party. Its strength lias grown beyond all tho expectations of its friends, and something of the growth was revealed by the striking labour successes at the

municipal elections last November, j "In general," "Tho Times" said, "tho j \ " municipal elections show that Labour j < '* is carrying the outworks of our sys- ] " torn of government. It is still a lonp i "way from storming tho citadel, bnt , < " its power to influence national <lo- j ( " ci.sions becomes moro impressive « "'every day.'' The extent of the ] change-over is shown in the following table of seats held by the parties in 1 the Ijondnn Borough Councils in 1012 ' and tho new distribution resultant upon tho November elections: — 1019. 1012. • Labour 39 Municipal Reform ... o* 4 -! 1010 Progressive ... 130 2oi Independent ... 3 s 24 But it is exceedingly unlikely that Labour could sccuro such a predominance at ,l general election as to make a Labour Government a possibility. Xor.c of tho existing parties ; lias ally reason to expect a victory at j the general olection. Tho position is one of unstable equilibrium, and tho solution may be that which is mentioned in to-day's cable message as tho most likely, namely, the breaking up of the present party boundaries and the formation of a real Centre party, with a small Right and a strong Left. Wo may see in Britain a political development like that which has already bogun in New Zealand. Here the Liberal Party in its old shape, or In any independent form, is done with as a Party of any importance. Mr Masscy appealed to and received the support of Centre opinion, and although an attenuated Liberal Party still exists, full of doubt as to what it shall do with itself, the natural lino of division has already been drawn clearly enough—tho line between progressives and revolutionaries. That is tho line that must ultimately bo drawn in Great Britain.