MR. R. A. BUTLER is clearly one of the most
valuable assets of the Conservative Party. But the nature of his position and his reputation within the party have always seemed strange to me. Before the war he became identified, more by accident than through any previous interest or conviction, with the Coalition Government's education policy. After the war, legitimately exploiting the reputation he had gained for an interest in progressive social policies, he played a vital part in the re- statement of Conservative policy, and, in those barren years for the Conservatives when hopes seemed to die as soon as they were born, Butlerism became the most acceptable gospel. But Mr. Butler has never had any deep roots or any very large following in the party. He has been 'the Chancellor of the Con- tinuing Boom,' and his reputation is now in the balance, because if he cannot cope with other than boom conditions he has nothing left to recommend him to the _party. Nothing is more dangerous for a politician than a reputation and position which rest solely on success. 1 saw that Mr. Roy Jenkins in the House of Commons said : 'I am not sure that . . . we do not need a new Chancellor.' A year ago even a Labour MP would not have dared to say that.
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