WI: Enoch Powell challenges Ted Heath in 1968

[bobby501]

After Powell made his infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech, Heath sacked him from the shadow cabinet. What-if Powell had decided to then challenge Heath for the Conservative leadership?

It would without question have been the most brutal party leadership election in UK history. In my view, Powell would have lost. But the contest would have done enough damage to the party to guarantee a 1970 general election defeat. Powell could have then said "I told you so" and probably would have been elected leader.

[The Red]

Powell wasn't a very good alliance builder, I doubt he'd win if he stood, probably lose quite heavily in fact. Even in a 'Gordon Banks' scenario it's unlikely he'd become leader, probably more likely to play a decapitation role.

[Simon]

Since as The Red says he apparently wasn't a very good alliance builder was Heath that unpopular within his own party that Powell or another MP could of achieved the necessary support to launch a leadership challenge?

[tallthinkev]

If this did happen I can see the winner being Willie Whitelaw.

[V-J]

There was no mechanism for challenging a Tory leader in 1968.

[Charles James Fox]

Plus, Heath wasn't that unpopular in 1968. The Labour government was unpopular at the time due to the poor state of the economy and Jenkins' fiscal tightening. It was assumed that the Conservatives would win when Wilson called an election, so to challenge the party leader would be viewed as a gross betrayal.

If Heath was toppled before the election (a highly unlikely outcome) it wouldn't be Powell or Whitelaw (too junior at this point). It would be either Macleod or Maudling.