Heath goes to the Country earlier than he did in OTL, and wins.
Most people in his own Cabinet couldnt believe that he dithered in late December 1973 and should of called the election then, everyone belived he would win with a small majority.
I think they would be a real chance that Britian could go hard left, more strikes, maybe even a general strike (which was being spoken up in Heath got in again).
Maybe the hard right coup happens with Lord Louis Mountbatten taking over the Governement, maybe even a civil war, (I know this is very dark).
Interesting thoughts. I wonder if even if Heath won, whether at sometime between say 74 and 76, if Heath continued on with his rather centrist, corporatist policies, whether the right-wing of the Tories would ditch him as leader.
Especially if Labour had gone hard-left, I wonder if there could be a National Government with the Labour right-wingers and One Nation Tories in coalition. Certainly in OTL Heath expressed his willingness to consider this in the mid 70's.
What you say about the possiblity of a hard right coup is interesting. I've think it would also be interesting to consider the possbility that a moderate National Governement could actually end up instituting martial law and in effect having a 'coup' of sorts in order to restore stability.
This is a timeline I'm considering expanding on and writing up more fully. I'd have it that Ted Heath as PM and say Denis Healey as Deputy PM. Buffeted by an increasingly militant hard left and a restless Tory Right (Thatcher), I can see a National Govt that sees itself as the 'moderate voice of reason' instituting semi-authoritarian policies, perhaps a ban on strikes on the one hand and strict price controls/freezes and rationing on the other.
A corporatist govt would try and 'tame' the trade unions by banning strikes and other sorts of legislation, rather than the overall more indirect means used by Thatcher (mass unemployment and/or destroying highly unionised intdustries). I can envisage the National Govt perhaps extending the life of Parliament if it felt that it couldn't win an election or suspending parliament it it feared a no confidence vote.
I suppose this is my own little version of a 'What If Gordon Banks Had Played' - esque British dictatorship scenario. Any thoughts on it?