HC Deb 22 November 1948 vol 458 c85W
19. Mr. Vane

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action His Majesty's Government were taking in view of the recent resolution of local parliament at Hanover that political parties in opposition to the Socialists should not combine for the purpose of fighting the next elections.

Mr. Mayhew

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the Clause in the Lower Saxon Local Government Electoral Law which forbids all political parties (not necessarily anti-Socialist) from combining to form joint lists at local government elections. Rejection of this Clause would have involved the rejection of the whole Law. This in its turn would have meant the postponement of the local government elections which all political parties had agreed should take place at the end of November. In these circumstances the Regional Commissioner decided not to intervene.