--And Finding Another
But who is to oppose him? The extreme left, as always, wants to make a protest, a gesture; it wants to demonstrate, not to win. Hence the proposal to put up Mr. Will Griffiths, who, though engaging enough, is hardly a vote-getter. Mr. Grifliths, however, is prepared to withdraw if someone more suitable presents himself. The ideal candidate to oppose Mr. Shinwell would be experienced, popular, personally unambitious and in the centre of the party.
These undemanding criteria are surprisingly difficult to fulfil. Certainly Mr. John Hynd. who stood against Mr. Shinwell last year, does not fulfil them--apart from anything else, he is con- sidered well to the right, particularly on foreign policy. As for the rest, there is Mr. Tom Steele, a former member of the Shadow Cabinet, who might well be approached to stand. Mr. Donald Chapman has all the required qualities, but is possibly a little too reserved. A more adven- turous candidate would be Mr. Merlyn Rees. True. Mr. Rees is doctrinally on the right, but he is popular with all sections of the party. The major trouble is that he is not unambitious and could legitimately expect a job in any re- shuffled Wilson administration. So also could Mr. Arthur Blenkinsop. However. Mr. Blenkin-
• sop is the obvious, natural candidate to defeat Mr. Shinwell. The next step in this little cam- paign will be to persuade him to stand.
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