Europe and Churchill

Richard Matrenza (`Meaningful meaningless`, May 11) reminded me that `immediately after` calling for the creation of a `United States of Europe` in 1946, `Churchill lost at the general elections`.

To give the full picture, in the British general election of 1950, the Conservatives led by Churchill managed a 3.3 per cent swing from Labour and slashed Labour`s majority from 193 to just five.

Another general election was called in 1951. The Conservatives won with a 1.1 per cent swing from Labour (even though they got slightly less votes) and Winston Churchill again became prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Churchill stayed on till 1955 and six weeks after he resigned his party was confirmed in government with an increased majority.

I would have expected our former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom to give this full picture if he wants to judge Churchill`s European vision on the merits of his electoral successes.

On other merits, the European Union is now reality. Britain joined in 1973 and two years later confirmed that decision in a referendum.