Scotsman Archive: Liberals Will Vote with Unionists 26 April, 1950

Excitement, over the two important divisions on the Budget resolutions tomorrow in the Commons was increased when it became known this evening that the Liberals had decided to vote "as a party" against both the increased petrol tax and the Purchase-tax on commercial vehicles.

If all nine Liberal MPs vote, the Government's majority may be extremely narrow. Given a full muster of all the members on both sides, Ministers could expect a small majority, even if Conservatives and Liberals were united against them. But the Government's fate … will be decided by the health or ill-health of their followers. Any sudden illnesses which deprived the Government Whips of four or five votes might cause the majority to vanish. Both sides, of course, have their invalids and a Government defeat is only possible if more Ministerialists than Conservatives are ill.

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