HC Deb 12 May 1949 vol 464 cc1986-7
20. Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to provide that the chairman of a county council or mayor of a borough shall not be elected until the council has been fully constituted by the filling of aldermanic vacancies.

Mr. Ede

No, Sir.

Mr. Keeling

Is the Home Secretary aware that the present law, whereby a council is not fully constituted until after the mayor or chairman has been elected, made possible in London what the "Tribune" called "The creation of a faked majority, contrary to the principles of democracy," and what the "New Statesman" called "Boss rule—the wangling of a majority?" How can the Home Secretary justify a law which makes that possible?

Mr. Ede

I do not have to justify it.