Snap Election In Britain Thought Possible

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1949, Page 8

Snap Election In Britain Thought Possible

LONDON, Feb. 20. Britain 's leading Soeialist Party managers are inaking plans for a pos* sible snap General Election, says the politieal correspohdent of the Sunday Express. Mueh will depend on the resnlt ot the by-election in Hammersmith. If , Labour wins this by a good majority, the leadei'.s wilJ talce it that the country favours the present Government. They raay then decide to_ have a General Election in the autnmn. The result of the Batley and Morley by-election last week, in whieh the Soeialist vote was up by 2000, delighted and surprised the Socialists. According to Soeialist tacticians, the ligures indicated that the Government is re taining all the floating vote it attraet ed in 1945, and in some cases is draw ing Liberals and others into support. Another consideration favouring an sleetioii this year is the Budget. Sir Stafford Cripps, v/lien he introduces the Budget in April, is expected to eut the purcliase tax in many gases and may abolish clothes rationing, whicb. would be popular. Mr. Attlee is believed to be im pressed by the arguments for a snap election. There have been signilicanl meetings recently of party offieiaLs concerned with policy. Mr. Churchill, on Wednesday, is making a tour of South Hammersmith in support of the Conservative eandidate. Mr. Antliony Eell, in a by-election which both Parties regard as their greatest trial of strength so far. Both candidates — Conservative A Fell and Labour W. T. Williams — are putting their most persuasive arguments to packed meetings. Mr. Fell is emphasisising that the Gonservatives have no intention of slackening in the policy of full emplovment and Mr. Williams is stressing what a rough time the workers had under private enterprise. lf Labour decides on a snap General Election, as has been suggested, it may be at the end of May or early in June as the present favourable tendencies for the Government might have disappeared l)y the autumn, says the Dailv Telegraph's politieal eorrespondent. All . Conservative successes since 1918 have been in the autumn and their defeats, with oue exception,, in the spring. Labour leaders think that Conservativf eritieism of the supplementaiy health estimates and food subsid}? offers them as good an opening as they are likely to get. The Government also knows there must be economies in public expenditure. The administration of the health service will have to be tightened up and food subsidies reviewed if rations increase. Labour members consider that if they have to do these things it would be better to do their^ after a successful election with a possible five years of power ahead. There is also the hope that the Atlantie Pacl will soon be a reality which will 'ob scure Mr. Ernest Bevin's fumblrng over Palestine.