Some Lost Leaders On the personal factors raised by the
defeats and victories at the polls a good deal might be said. The 5,000 majority obtained by Sir Herbert Samuel at Darwen and the narrower victory of Sir Donald Maclean- in Cornwall show that a good many Conservatives must have cast their votes for a Liberal in accordance with the general national understanding. A defeat of either of those Ministers would have created a feeling of grievance it is well to avoid. The Prime Minister's victory was a just reward for a fine and courageous fight, and for personal as well as family reasons the return of his son at Bassetlaw is welcome. On every ground Mr. Henderson's absence, no doubt only tem- porary, from the House of Commons is to be regretted. His leadership and his special authority in the field of international affairs are indispensable to an Opposition leaderless and devoid of a single first-rank figure, with the possible exception of Sir Stafford Cripps, Several other ex-Ministers must be got back as soon as possible if the Opposition is to make any pretence of discharging an Opposition's proper role. Parliament will lose its hold on public respect altogether if the balances are so hopelessly tilted that Parliamentary discussion becomes a farce.
Previous page
