Mr. Clifford Allen on the Lust for Power

Mr. Clifford Allen, one of the products of the I.L.P., who was recently raised to the peerage for services rendered, once made a speech at an I.L.P. Summer School, a speech which he might with interest read now. It was reported in the Daily Herald on August 25th, 1924 :—

“Politicians are more concerned about applause, power, and appreciation than about principle and policy, declared Mr. Clifford-Allen, when lecturing at the I.L.P. Summer School, Scarborough, yesterday. The reason, he said, was that they were afraid of what was called public opinion.
Consequently, Governments thought in terms of keeping in power, rather than in administrating according to their principles. He sometimes thought it would he a good thing if politicians, like the actors in ancient Greece, wore masks, and were judged on their principles and policy solely. This might restrain the instinct for power. It would be a good thing if M.P’.s, on their return home each evening, would think for a few moments, and ask themselves if anything they had done in Parliament that day was of benefitt to Democracy.”

H. C.