Great Britain: Looking Left

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The Cabinet also leans left with Colonial Secretary Anthony Greenwood. 53, an elegant charm boy and professional rebel who quit Gaitskell's "Shadow Cabinet" in 1960 to signal his support of unilateral disarmament. Outside Cabinet rank, Wilson has given ministerial posts to another 25 hard-core leftists. The majority of Wilson's Cabinet remains right of center. In addition to early rightist appointments (George Brown, James Callaghan, Patrick Gordon Walker), he has named others, notably Labor Minister Raymond Gunter, 55, a tough, adroit trade unionist with strong views about how to reform unions. Right as well, and roaming the corridors of power as Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Technology, will be, fittingly enough, Scientist-Author C. P. Snow, 59, who has exhaustively and vicariously explored Whitehall in a clutch of bestselling novels.

Up to Five. In the best British tradition. Loyal Opposition Leader Sir Alec Douglas-Home promised that the Tories would hold their fire for the first few months to give the new government a chance, even increased Wilson's majority by agreeing to keep a Tory M.P. in the speakership of the House of Commons. Since the speaker cannot vote, Wilson's effective majority thus went up from four to five. The Tories also agreed to pair off ministers in parliamentary votes, thereby enabling Laborites to leave the country on official business without endangering the government's margin.

And travel they intend to do. Foreign Secretary Patrick Gordon Walker, who lost his constituency in the elections and thus for the moment has no Commons seat, is due in Washington this week. President of the Board of Trade Douglas Jay will soon be off to Peking to open a British industrial exhibit. Commonwealth Relations Minister Arthur Bottomley barely had time to find his office before flying off to Zambia's independence celebrations, may have to go on to deal with obstreperous Southern Rhodesia.

Faced with an impending balance of payments crisis and plenty of other troubles, the Prime Minister himself was not going anywhere for a while. But as he prepared the Queen's Speech to Parliament, outlining the legislative ambitions of his new government, Wilson was clearly out to make the most of the first weeks of grace any new government enjoys. He may never have it so good again.