Wow that Callaghan has been eliminated from the leadership stakes it is much easier to see the likely outcome of the battle and how the result will effect develop ments in the Labour Party.. In many ways Callaghan was the Most dangerous candidate from a left-wing point of view. He could have, to use the current terminology, led the party from 'right of centre.' Many left—wingers and pretty all the'centre!' would have accepted him and not conducted any struggle against his policies because of the coming general election, Many of the right-wingers recognised this and tiis is demonstrated by the unexpectedly large vote he got. The same cannot be said for the other overtly right-wing candidate-Erown, The moment of tha announcement of his victory the campaign against him would commence. Many people (including those of the centre) would not be able to stomach the idea of him being Britain's next prime minister. It would make them literally fs0l sick, Large sections of the left would willingly sacrifice an election victory rather than havc Brown as the leader,
As matters stand now, it is almost certain that Wilson will win. He needs to gat only eight of Callaghan's votes to get the needed—absolute majority, The fact that the margin is so aunll will be further incentive for Callaghen's supporters to switch to Wilson, Brown stood in Gaitskell's shadow and carried out a useful division of labour with him (from a right-wing point of view.) Brown did the 'dirty work' for Gaitskell, and in his thick—skinned way acted ‘as a lightening conductor! (as the Economist put it) to divert criticism from his master, His qualities of rudeness, viciousness against the left, and crudeneas are very suitable for that role, but not for that of leader of the party, oven from a right—win’d point of view,
In some ways Brown's election would be ef advantagoa to the left, tha ensuing struggle would tend to consolidate the left and reintroduce the post= Scarborough atmosphere. As against this and with the coming general election, Brown would attempt to use his newly won position to intensify his attack on the left. Wilson on the other hand will be in a much better position to "unite! the party and to put left wing critics out on a limb, However, he has one characteristic which has made sections of the bourgecis press suspicious of him, that of bending under left pressure and ever. jumping on to a left—wing bandwagon. They remember his behaviour after Scearborc..... In the present situation with growing unemployment and the coming Tory offensive against the working class, Wilson may make a ‘left' turn and use his position (and the fact of his election) ~~ to push the Labour Party along eae 'left line’, There is also tho fact that the apparatus of the party would have to reflect this change . The local full—time officials, and the Party's permanent civil service wore loyal to Gaitskell and formed the basis of the C.D-S. (his faction to overthrow tho Soarborough decision), they have also beon anti-Wilson, In the situation of a ‘left? turn they would either have to change their tune, go into opposition and/or eventually be roplaced,
Such a development is a possibility and not a certainty, and there are many dangers even if the 'left' thrn‘is taken. A 'left!' turn under an opportunist leagership, can, unless the left as well as capitalising upon it maintain their political and organisational identity, divert the left and later lead to grave disillusionment, Whilst it can be an advantage to swim with the stream, it is very necessary to be on guard against going over the opportunist falls, No matter who wins the leadership,our essential task remains the same: that of building a firm left centre, both organisationally and ideologically.