The Zast Midlands Regional Labour Party ! briocfing* meoting was held in ‘Leicestor at the Boot and Shoe Union Hall on February 22nd with Wedgwood Benn at the main speaker. Tho moeting highlighted some of the differences in the party between tho Gaitskell and ‘yilson regimes. True it was a regional not a local moeting, the Boot and Shoe Hall is smallish, yet the rapport botween platform and floor has not been seen since the peak yoars of "Nye" — and the same lessons have to be learned agains Over 300 packed into the Trade Hall, there was hardly standing room left. Questions and discussion were on a reasonable level, andqQuostioners were obviously anxious that the Labour Party be prepared for office. But a grim rominder of the past sat brooding on Bemn's right hand — Bowden, still the Chief Whip and some time stiletto man for Gaitskell.
Benn spolled out the FIVE TASKS of a Labour Government. As in 1959 immense oxpenditure was envisaged, nearly everything would have something extra spent on it, all to be paid for by “increased productivity". Although questioned on a national plan and priorities, Benn gave no categorical assurance that the Labour Shadow Cabinet was preparing an overall plan, or that they had any concrete conclusions on the mechanics of how a planned economy should operate. Benn has an excellent platform manner, he puts it over with virile charm and modesty. A golden era is just round the corner and ovorything in the gerdon (including urban land development control) will bo lovely without anyone getting badly hurt except perhaps land and proporty sharks, That there would be difficulties and that there are knotty probloms was acknowledged. But one came away with the feeling that with a less , radical and fundamental programme than 1945, the rank and file will be marched up tho hill and down again. JBecause after the dismal and sterile years of Gaitskell the rank and filo aro in dangor of letting their onthusiasm for the peppy Wilson leadership lead them into an uncritical and ovor—tderant approval of a programme of social reforms net buttressed and reinforced with the planned controls and machinery to enforce it.