Tory Revolt
Neither the Government in general nor the Prime Minister in particular is accustomed to the outbreak of revolt among the normally acquiescent back benches. Sir Winston was obviously taken aback by the angry reaction to his announce- ment that nothing is to be done for those elderly retired service officers whose pensions were stabilised in 1935 at 9i per cent. below the 1919 level. This really was a revolt, not to be compared with the grumbles of dissidence produced by the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations or the competitive television proposals. The rebels made it clear enough that unless the Government thinks again they will not allow the service estimates through without a vote. They have right on their side. Those officers who retired soon after the First World War have a just claidi on the country if anyone has, and their dwindling ranks are now-so reduced that to restore the cut of 91 per cent. to them and to the civil servants also affected would cost no more than £400,000 annually—and that, in the nature of things, for not very long. The Prime Minister was made uneasy by the vehemence of his critics, and especially by the accusation that the decision amounted to a betrayal of trust. The revolt was welcome, first because it is right that Justice should be done to those old soldiers before they have all faded away, and secondly because it showed that the individual mind and the individual conscience are still alive among the Tory -back benches.
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