LIBERAL LITURGY
The Liberal Party's agenda for its Conference at Llandudno from April 14 to 16 is not a refreshing document. The rhythm of the Liberal creed is getting monotonous : civil liberties, free trade, reform of the electoral system (this year confined to local elections), and racial equality all appear directly or implicitly. A resolution from St. Marylebone. intended apparently to relate to West Indian immigration into Britain, is distinguished by a Gladstoman resonance and obliqueness of the kind which makes connoisseurs of political literature pray for the survival of the faithful remnant : it urges the Government 'to resist all mischievous attempts to induce them to depart from the high moral standards for which Great Britain is renowned.' What makes the Liberal Party a small tragedy as well as a big joke " is the fact that its dominant passion, for political independence, is something which the country needs more than ever. The point is that the spirit of rebellion would be far more fruitfully exer- cised within the ranks of one of the great parties than it can in a minority party. To this Liberals may understandably answer that they will not trust their cherished integrity to either Conservative or Socialist whips, but it is hard to believe that the Liberal conscience, which has survived so many lost deposits, would be unable to stand up to this tyranny and in so doing to help to make the party system far less rigid than it is.
Previous page
