Steel No More

A resplendently gowned and crowned Queen Elizabeth last week opened the second Parliament of Harold Wilson's Labor government with a cool, clear reading of the "gracious speech" that traditionally limns the government's legislative hopes for a new session. The speech, prepared by Wilson, was a seven-minute catalogue of proposed measures from health to housing but was mainly notable for what it left out: any mention of the nationalization of Britain's steel industry.

Ownership of steel has had an honored place in Socialist manifestoes and party platforms in Britain for decades, and Wilson's in 1964 was no exception. But ever since he became Prime Minister, Wilson has steadily backpedaled on steel, not only because it is the one issue that might bring down his government, but also because as a trained economist Wilson is well aware that steel nationalization for modern Britain is an unnecessary relic of 19th century socialism.

Nevertheless, for the benefit of his 25-odd Laborite left-wingers who were deeply shocked by steel's omission, Wilson in the debate following the Queen's speech insisted that steel was not dead but merely sleeping until the parliamentary calendar was less crowded. Tory Leader Ted Heath was not impressed: "It looks like the biggest conversion since Bessemer invented his converter," he jeered, "a squalid act of political expediency by a prime minister who puts political powers before his principles and beliefs." Heath's biting attack, as he taunted Wilson with every promise he had ever made to take over steel, stemmed perhaps as much from his chagrin at the loss of the Tories' best issue against Wilson as from his desire to embarrass the government.

But Wilson cared less about Heath's reaction than about that of Liberal Leader Jo Grimond, whose nine votes in the House provide the extra margin Labor needs to operate comfortably. Since the Liberals are dead set against steel nationalization, Wilson's omission was calculated--and successful. Welcoming Wilson's steel retreat, Grimond exulted: "It is recognized in the speech that the government no longer stands for socialism."

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