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SIR ALEC: "WELL, THIS RECALLS TO ME AGAIN THAT WE'VE GOT 98 PER CENT OF THE INSURED POPULATION IN WORK WITH GOOD WAGES. EVERY FAIR MINDED PERSON MUST ADMIT THAT THE STANDARD OF LIVING IS FAR BETTER THAN IT WAS WHEN WE BEGAN 12 YEARS AGO AND I THINK THE PROSPECTS TOO ARE GOOD. AND ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CONSERVATIVE AND SOCIALIST PARTIES IS I THINK THAT WE HAVE LAID FORWARD OUR PROGRAMMES FOR THE MODERNISATION OF BRITAIN AND WE HAVE COSTED THEM."



MR. WILSON: "THE INCREASE IN PRODUCTION THAT THIS COUNTRY CAN ACHIEVE, AND REMEMBER WE HAVE BEEN LAGGING BEHIND SO MANY OTHER COUNTRIES ALL THIS TIME, IF WE CAN COME UP TO THEIR LEVEL, AND HEAVEN..KNOWS WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND I HOPE SURPASS THEM, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY CARRY THROUGH OUR WHOLE PROGRAMME. THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN TAXATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR EXAMPLE THE BURDEN OF TAXATION MORE FAIRLY SHARED. SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT BEARING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXATION TODAY."



QUESTION: "BUT FOR THE GENERAL BODY YOUR PROGRAMME WILL NOT INVOLVE HIGHER TAXATION?"



MR. WILSON: "OVER THE PERIOD OF THE PARLIAMENT, IN OUR WHOLE PROGRAMME FOR EXPANSION WE CAN DO ALL THIS OUT OF THE INCREMENT OF CURRENT PRODUCTION."



MR. GRIMOND: "WELL, CERTAINLY WE'VE HAD A DECISIVE INFLUENCE ON BRITISH POLITICS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS OR SO. I THINK THAT THE MOST DRAMATIC EVENT THAT HAPPENED WAS THE ORPINGTON BY-ELECTION. I SUPPOSE IT'S THE ONLY BY-ELECTION IN BRITAIN, THAT ANYONE REMEMBERS. I SUPPOSE LUBBOOK IS THE ONLY VICTOR IN A BY-ELECTION THAT ANYONE KNOWS. IN THAT SENSE IT WAS A DECISIVE AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFLUENCE. FURTHERMORE THE GROWTH IN OUR GENERAL STRENGTH HAS GREATLY INFLUENCED THE THINKING OF BOTH THE OTHER PARTIES."




Initials JRG/V AND B -- TR/WH/JG



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Background: THE BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION. AFTER 13 YEARS OF CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT, BRITONS HAVE TO DECIDE ON OCTOBER 15 IF THEY ARE FOR ANOTHER SPELL - UP TO FIVE YEARS - UNDER SIR ALEC DOUGLAS-HOME'S PARTY.

SIR ALEC WENT FROM SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND TO SCOTLAND TO TELL THE QUEEN AT BALMORAL TODAY (TUESDAY) OF THE DATE. HE WAS MAINTAINING THE TRADITION OF TELLING HER IN PERSON THOUGH LETTER OR TELEPHONE COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

AFTERWARDS, SIR ALEC FLEW DOWN TO LONDON AND HIS OFFICE ISSUED THIS NOTE COUCHED IN THE CUSTOMARY TERMS:
"THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ASKED HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO PROCLAIM THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. HER MAJESTY HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO SIGNIFY THAT SHE WILL COMPLY WITH THIS REQUEST."
THE DISSOLUTION WILL BE ON SEPT. 25; THE NEW PARLIAMENT WILL BE SWORN IN ON OCTOBER 27 AND WILL BE OPENED ON NOVEMBER 3.

ALSO ACCORDING TO CUSTOM THE PRIME MINISTER (WITH 336 SEATS IN THE COMMONS) GAVE NOTICE OF HIS INTENTIONS TO MR. WILSON AND MR. GRIMOND, THE LEADERS OF THE TWO OPPOSITION PARTIES IN THE PARLIAMENT. (MR. WILSON HAS 256 SEATS, MR. GRIMOND'S LIBERALS 7).

AND AS IS THE CUSTOM TOO, THERE'S WIDE EXPECTATION THAT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION WILL BE CLOSE AS USUAL, WITH ONLY A SMALL MAJORITY FOR EITHER MAIN SIDE.

NEARLY 30 MILLION BRITONS ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE - AND SOME ESTIMATES SAY FOUR OUT OF FIVE WILL DO SO.

THE THREE LEADERS APPEARED ON TELEVISION AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE POLLING DATE. HERE ARE THREE EXTRACTS FROM THEIR CAMPAIGN POINTS.