Evening star., 1944-02-14
Two Political Storms
In Britain Revive
Voters independence
BY HELEN KIRKPATRICK,
Foreisn Correspondent of The Star and
ChicaRo Daily News.

chicaso Daily News.
LONDON, Feb. IA strong re-
vial of individualism and inde-
pendence in British politics Is seen
by observers in last weeks parlia-
mentary attack on the government
over the number Of M. P.'s holding
government jobs and the small
storm over the candidacy OF the
Duke of Devonshire's son.
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
effectively disposed of the attacks
in Parliament, and the hubbub in
connection with the Dukes son Is
subsiding. But both incidents are
believed to be symptomatic of a
trend by the people to take back
some Of the power they relinquished
to the government earlier in the
war.
Aneurin Bevan, Labor member,
who has an unbroken record of at
tacks on the government-ando often
unconstructive attackS-on Thurs
day launched particularly bitter
one against the government for per-
mitting 20 M. P.'s Ito hold offices of
profit under the crown"
Second Job Prohibited.
Members of Parliament, under
Britain's unwritten law, are pro-
hibited from holding Office for both
their constituents and the govern
ment at the same time. The war
time situation caused a loosening
up OF this ruling and members have
been permitted to take jobs If the
Prime Minister issues a certificate to
this effect.
Among the 20 M. P.'s with dual
onices are: Sir Samuel Hoare, Am
bassador to Madrid, and Alfred
Duff Cooper, representative to the
French Committee Of National Lib
Grafton at Algiers.
Mr.. Bevan's argument, which was
supported by other members, in
cluding Conservatives, made the
case that constituencies were being
deprived of their voice in Parlia-
ment by reason of the members
other duties.
MIR. Bevan also claimed that such
men were drawing two salaries from
the government.
Mr.. Eden's answer was that of the
20 holding dual jobs, three-quarters
were also able to be present in Par
lament and that by no means all
OF them received salaries in addition
to their parliamentary salaries of
$4,000 yearly.
Dukes Son Center of Storm.
Aonther storm which has blown
around political centers and through
Parliament this week concerns the
candidacy Of 26-year-old William
Cavendish, Marquis of Harrington,
the Duke OF Devonshire' heir.
1t appears that Lord HARRINGTON
submitted his resignation of his
commission in the Coldstream
Guards and asked to be transferred
to the list Of reserve officers a week
before his brother -in-law, Henry
Hunloke, resigned his seat in Parli-
ment. Then, the same day Mr..
Hunlokes resignation was presented
to the local party headquarters.
Lord Harrington accepted the
vacancy.
Accusation of undue haste, manip-
ulation and nepotism have been
made. The Cavendish family has
held the West Derbyshire seat for
300 years with only one brief break.
Lord Harrington is being opposed
by two independents, one the son of
the only man who ever successfully
contested the Cavendishes, and the
other a young farmer.
Churchill Supports Harrington,
Lord Harrington has received al
long and glowing letter from Prime
Minister Churchill, urging the elec-
tors to put him in Parliament
Aside from the youthfulness Of
Lord Harrington, his complete lack
OF political experience and the fact
that he will remain in the army for
the wars duration, his candidacy
Is being opposed as the Brighton
election was, merely on the
principle that the people are begin
ming to prefer to choose their own
candidates.
Owing to two other candidates
the ticket is likely to be split and
Lord Harrington elected without too
much trouble.
For the past three years the peo-
pie OF Britain have been content to
allow the coalition government
headed by Mr.. Churchill, to have
pretty much its own way. They
nave felt that The grave emergency
demands unprecedented powers,
Now that the gravest emergency has
passed, the people are beginning to
take back some of the powers and
both of these slight storms can be
taken as indication of that feeling
While still the strongest SUPPORT
ers OF Mr.. Churchill, the people feel
that the time has come when thew
should be able to select men they
want for Parliament without being
accused of failing to support
Churchill or the war.
Local issues are beginning again
to emerge IN pOlitics