Mr. Clarke, M.P., speaking at Plymouth on Wednesday even- ing,
made the regular conventional Conservative speech of the present time, assailing the Government for everything they had done, except the Bill for permitting the issue of Reply Post- cards, and threatening that the Conservatives, directly they are in power, will rescind the Standing Order permitting a majority to vote the Closure of debate. The last threat is the only one of interest in Mr. Clarke's speech. Probably it will not be taken up by the Tory leaders, but even if it became a popular cry with the Tory rank and file that the Standing Order for stopping irrelevant chatter should be rescinded, the party would only, we are persuaded, lose ground thereby with the constituencies. The party that favours chatter for the sake of chatter, viill find it difficult to regain the confidence of the electorate.
Previous page
