‘Bett wing mist be sat on sys “Eeonomist"
& good part of the Economist's main editorial of October 17th was teken up with explwining and elaborstin; its previous support of Lebour it published several critical letters from readers. (¢. Wloth of Woodbridge Said he hed cancelled his order; and D, Davis of leamingto Spe announced his intention of meking an 'enormous bonfire! of his back mumbers). But it had thie to say about Labour's Left:
"i V.the last Labour: governnent had a better record in foreign policy than in domestic policy, but that waa lerzely because Ernest Bevin bravely outfaced the noisy minority of extreme leftwingers...Today Labour has no obvious foreign secretary of Mir, Bevin's stature, and there is a danger that the sarty's rump of sentimental pacifists may have been made rather fatter by some of its victo— ries in marginal eents...That rump will have to be sat upon..." "The Times" doubts Vilson's ability to disappoint the leit
The Times of Octcber 17th, which more or less argued for Lnboun to be fiven-a chance providing it detatched "itself...from controversial irrelevancies such 2s the nationalisation of steel and the propesed land commission...and fron jons=term commitments such as ‘renegotiation’ of the Nass ssreenent " further went on: "...Labour's left wing went to ground for the election, but out of Sight Ta neither out of mind mot cut of business, Left Wingere, whether of the socialist or unilaterslist variety or both, formed the core of Mr. Wilson's support when he challenred Gaitskell for the leadership of the perty in 1960 andi when he triumphed over Ii. Brow three years later. There must be doubt whether lr. Wilson has both the will and the power to disampoint these people in their expectations..." The "Finencial Times" would have preferred ‘Lord Cousins!"
The Financial Times of October 19th considered the first of Wilson's appoiniments: "J..the appoinimnent of Mr, Consins...will surprise many poopie, sone of them-unplessantly, Ji. Cousins has been a militant trade imion lender sees bt the leader of a Senerdl union ds not an chyious choice to spesrhesd a drive for moder industrialisation. He ais generally regarded as-a lefi-winger On ¢conomic and social’ «questions and is an advocate of umileateral nuclear disarmanent..eHis appointment may help to smooth the way towards « bargain on incomes policy but it may also arcuse fears that Mr. Wilson..intends to push on towards full-blooded socialism. There is; however, a more encouraging explanation, If Labour is to get eny dames part cf its programe through, it must maintain party unity... To win the confidesce of ita left wing, it must give it some representation im the Cabinet....-Hut every gamble carries risks, lr, Cousine snd his his two tollespsues can be sutveted in Cabinet..but, they wild not be out-voted quietly. Moreover...there is little doubt that Mr. Goueins aeeWill be one of the chief targets for Conservative attacks His very presence an the House...may make it more difficult for Labour to concentrate on things Which need colne immediately...It mient heve been better, if the ides of Lord Cousins hed bean conceivable.." ({1!!) "Sundey Tines" fears Lebour's educational "eralitarian doctrines"
Speaking of the action of the Labour Couneil in Bristel in pushing through comprehensive education, the Sunday Times said: ™...the labour Party's egalit— arian doctrines could lead to serious damage to our schools..lMr. Wilson does not repudiate the bristol council which is acting in precisely the way that critics of the Labour Party educational policy hnve always feared..."