Practical Politics The executive committee of the Labour Party has
taken a wise step from its own point of view in drafting for early publication a five-year programme of policy `! to which effect could be given within the lifetime of a single Parlia- ment." A great deal obviously depends on what the contents of the programme are, but the effect both inside and outside the Party may be considerable. On the face of it this is a policy of gradualism, calculated to complete the breach between the party and full-blooded enthusiasts like Sir Stafford Cripps, the question of whose ejection from the party was adjourned at the meeting of the executive on Wednesday in order that the draft policy might be fully discussed; it is possible on the other hand that the Socialist League zealots might see their way to agreeing to an instal- ment of reform without any prejudice to the ultimate accept- ance of their full gospel. Outside the party the idea of a five-year programme has already obtained wide currency. If, for example, the representative and catholic body con- sisting of the supporters of the volume The Next Five Years found that the new Labour programme was substantially identical with theirs many of them might feel it their duty to join in trying to put it into effect. The question of its relation to Liberal policy is also extremely pertinent. Its actual text will be closely studied in all political camps.
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