This will be the last chunk of OTL history I promise - the next part will begin the AH.
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1966.
Death of Henry Solomons, Labour MP for Kingston-upon-Hull North. At the ensuing January by-election – perhaps because of the announcement of the construction of the Humber Bridge – Labour candidate Kevin McNamara holds the seat and even achieves an 8.91% swing to Labour. It is rare for ruling governments to win by-elections and even though Hull North was a fairly strong Labour seat, the fact that McNamara increased his majority convinces Wilson (clinging to his majority by the skin of his teeth) to call a general election for March.
Wilson’s gamble pays off. Labour wins a majority of 96, their largest since Attlee’s 1945 result. Grimond’s leadership of the Liberals continues to pay dividends, with their number of seats rising from 9 to 12. However, this is considered insufficient and Grimond will resign. Despite the Conservatives’ disappointing result, Heath remains leader.
For the first time, the state opening of Parliament is televised.
Despite his newly strengthened position, Wilson is plagued with problems. The economy is in trouble, a state worsened when the National Union of Seamen went on strike in May. Wilson declared a state of emergency, blaming Communist agitators for both the strike and divisions in his own party. The NUS backs down, but this is only the start for years of trouble between Labour and the unions.
In response to the pound weakening, Wilson and his Chancellor, Jim Callaghan, institute a wages freeze and bar more than £50 being taken abroad to encourage people to holiday and spend in Britain instead. Wilson sets an example by holidaying in the Isles of Scilly. All of this is to try and avoid devaluing the pound, which Wilson opposes at any cost due to the fact that Attlee had done the same in 1949 and he wanted to avoid Labour being seen as the party of devaluation. By the end of the year, however, Britain will be faced by a £162 million trade deficit as a result of this refusal.
President de Gaulle breaks with NATO and French military forces are withdrawn from the NATO command structure. In response, NATO moves its headquarters from Paris to Brussels.
An IRA bomb destroys a statue of Lord Nelson in Dublin.
The Ba’ath Party takes power in Syria.
Meeting in Rome of Pope Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Arthur Michael Ramsey, opening up a new dialogue between the estranged Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.
Harold Wilson is called ‘another Churchill’ by President Johnson for his support over the Vietnam War, although he continues to rule out sending British troops. Wilson also goes to Moscow to try and negotiate a Vietnam ceasefire with the Soviets, but they rebuff his advances.
England wins the World Cup. The nation rejoices in a manner unseen since the Coronation, with Wilson smoothly riding the wave. The World Cup itself is stolen, but then dug up by a dog after being buried in a garden.
After the assassination of South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, he is succeeded by B.J. Vorster. Vorster continues and expands apartheid policies, but is perceived as more of a human figure, using PR to try and mend South Africa’s image and being pragmatic with his foreign affairs.
As part of the Sino-Soviet split, the USSR announces that all Chinese students must leave the country.
Tensions with Spain over Gibraltar heat up, with Spain demanding Britain cease military flights to the Rock. Britain baldly rejects this. Spain closes the border.
Aberfan mining disaster in Wales kills more than 100 people.
Harold Wilson meets with Rhodesian rebel leader Ian Smith on HMS
Tiger in the Mediterranean. Smith resents blackmail from the Black Commonwealth leaders, while Wilson is enraged that the Rhodesian problem threatens to split the Commonwealth. The talks go nowhere, with Smith somewhat willing to compromise but Wilson insisting the Rhodesians concede the illegality of their UDI as part of the settlement. After the talks, a furious Wilson proclaims NIBMAR in relation to Rhodesia. He also goes to the United Nations and sanctions are imposed upon Rhodesia. Ian Smith declares Rhodesia a republic in response.
Soviets score two space firsts – Luna 10 is the first manmade object to orbit the moon, while Venera 3 is the first to land on another planet (Venus).
Actor Ronald Reagan is elected Governor of California in a landslide. He is already spoken of as a potential Republican Presidential candidate as early as 1968, though more probably in 1972.
North Sea Gas is discovered.
Military coup in Argentina, known as the
Revolución Argentina, which instates General Juan Carlos Onganía as leader. Onganía’s government suffers the same problems as the UK’s, facing a wages freeze and a currency revaluation. The junta faces widespread public protests, mostly from supporters of the exiled President Juan Perón.
1967.
With Jo Grimond stepping down, the Liberal Party holds a leadership contest, which is won by Jeremy Thorpe.
Parliament votes to nationalise 90% of the British steel industry.
Apollo 1 disaster in the United States. The USA, USSR and UK sign the Outer Space Treaty, demilitarising space.
Torrey Canyon disaster – an oil supertanker runs around off the Cornish coast. The RAF is mobilised to bomb and ignite the oil slick with napalm.
The United Kingdom and Ireland both apply for EEC membership. The Netherlands supports the British bid. The EEC merges with the European Coal and Steel Community to form the European Community/ies (EC).
Biafra proclaims its independence from Nigeria.
The Summer of Love takes place in the Western world. In stark contrast to this expression of counter-culture, China undergoes the murderous Cultural Revolution and the Six Days’ War rages between Israel and its Arab neighbours. Wilson blames the latter for the drop in value of the pound. Callaghan is finally forced to devaluate the pound by 14.3%. Wilson makes a gaffe when he claims to the public that ‘this does not of course mean that the pound in your pocket is worth less’ – it is.
BBC 2 begins colour television broadcasting.
Defence Secretary Denis Healey announces the intention of the British government to withdraw its military forces from ‘east of Suez’ (except Hong Kong) which means Malaysia and Singapore, appalling the Australians and Americans.
After a request from the United Nations, a referendum is held in Gibraltar on whether to join Spain. Of the 12,182 voters, precisely 44 want to do so. This shuts up Franco for a bit.
Execution of Che Guevara in Bolivia.
South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard performs the world’s first heart transplant operation.
The Marine Broadcasting Offences Act shuts down most British pirate radio stations.
Concorde, the joint Anglo-French supersonic passenger liner, is unveiled for the first time in Toulouse.
1968.
The Prague Spring. Alexander Dubcek becomes leader of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia. The Soviets react to his reforms predictably – with tanks.
In the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong launch the Tet Offensive. Though Vietnam is falling apart for President Johnson, at home he secures his place in history by signing the Civil Rights Act.
Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary (and former Minister for Health), Enoch Powell, makes a speech in Birmingham that rocks the political establishment. Popularly known as the ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech after a metaphor Powell used drawing upon Virgil, the speech condemns anti-discrimination legislation and warns that continued immigration to the United Kingdom will lead to the same racial strife dominating the headlines in the United States. Broadly speaking, the establishment condemn the speech (with Powell being sacked by political enemy Ted Heath) while much of the public supported it, with London dockers going on strike to protest against the treatment of Powell. Regardless, a can of worms has been opened and immigration and race relations irreparably become a political issue in Britain.
May protests in Paris almost spiral into a revolution.
Assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.
End of steam passenger trains in Britain.
Apollo 8 is the first manned mission to orbit the Moon.
American oil tycoon Robert McCullough buys the old London Bridge and has it reconstructed in the USA.
Decimalised currency begins to circulate in Britain.
British Motor Holdings is merged with the Leyland Motor Corporation to form British Leyland. This combines almost all British car manufacturers into one company.
After Lyndon Johnson says he will not seek re-election, Hubert Humphrey wins the Democratic nomination but is defeated at the election by Republican Richard Nixon.
1969.
Barbara Castle, Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, publishes the White Paper
In Place of Strife, calling for tougher union legislation to prevent the Government being held over a barrel by the unions. Despite receiving some support from Wilson, however, the White Paper is defeated by cabinet members led by Home Secretary Jim Callaghan (close to the unions).
The left-wing nationalist group People’s Democracy marches from Belfast to Londonderry in Northern Ireland, provoking clashes with the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The nationalists proclaim a ‘Free Derry’ commune in Londonderry, creating a stand-off. The modern Irish Troubles have begun.
Infamous London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray sentenced to 30 years in prison each.
North Sea Oil is discovered.
The Apollo 11 moon landing. America recovers her pride from every previous loss in the space race by winning the only battle anyone remembers.
Britain sends troops to Anguilla to put down a rebellion, which completely disintegrates when they arrive and the whole intervention turns into a big party. Only in the Caribbean.
Charles is made Prince of Wales.
The Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet flies for the first time.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus premieres on BBC 1.
All diplomatic ties severed between Rhodesia and the UK.
ARPANET, the distant ancestor of the Internet, becomes operational in the United States.
1970.
The British voting age is reduced from 21 to 18. The 1970 general election is the first fought under these new rules. With signs of the economy picking up and a good performance in local elections, Wilson decides to hold an early general election. Polls predict a Labout victory and Labour election propaganda paints Heath’s Tories as ‘Yesterday’s Men’. However, a last minute swing to the Conservatives produces a shock result – they win with a majority of 31. The collapse in the Labour vote leads to the high-profile George Brown losing his seat (he was soon made a peer). Jeremy Thorpe makes a disappointing debut, with the Liberal Party’s representation shrinking to just 6 MPs. Some wonder if the party can survive at all.
Heath vows to take the country into the EEC and to control the unions. He reassures the Americans by maintaining a token force east of Suez.
In Argentina, after Onganía fails to defeat the Montoneros (Peronist guerillas) he is deposed by fellow general Roberto M. Levingston.
Canada recognises the People’s Republic of China.
The PLO hijacks three airliners, starting a trend of terrorism that will plague the 1970s.
The Beatles break up.
The pound is decimalised. Existing pre-decimal one and two shilling coins still in circulation continue to be accepted as 5p and 10p, while new coins are rolled out.
Cabinet members of Her Majesty’s Government
(as of June 1970)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service: Edward Heath
Lord Chancellor: Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Ian Macleod
(replaced by Anthony Barber after his death one month after the election)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Maurice Macmillan
Foreign Secretary: Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: James Prior
Defence Secretary: Peter Carington, Baron Carrington
Education and Science Secretary: Margaret Thatcher
Employment Secretary: Robert Carr
Social Services Secretary: Sir Keith Joseph
Housing and Local Government Secretary: Peter Walker
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Anthony Barber
Scottish Secretary: Gordon Campbell
Minister for Technology: Geoffrey Rippon
Trade and Industry Secretary: John Davies
Minister of State, Trade and Consumer Affairs: Sir Geoffrey Howe
Minister for Transport: John Peyton
Welsh Secretary: Peter Thomas
1971.
Heath’s policy of confrontation with the unions backfires, with strikes being even worse than under Wilson. Then the Conservatives, faced with the prestigious Rolls-Royce going under, nationalise it and look like hypocrites.
With the American Apollo lunar programme having great success and their own moonshot programme still suffering problems, the Soviets quietly cancel it, deny they were ever in the race, and launch the first space station Salyut 1 instead.
The Troubles continue to heat up, with 11,000 British troops in Northern Ireland and internment of nationalists.
President Nixon ends the Bretton Woods global economic system by announcing the United States will no longer offer convertibility of the dollar to gold bullion.
The 2,500 Year Celebration of Iran takes place. Being the Shah’s brainchild, it does not endear him to his restless people, partly due to being an expression of ostentatious wealth when many Iranians suffer from poverty, partly because it focuses on Cyrus the Great and virtually ignores Islam.
The United Nations admits the People’s Republic of China and expels the Republic of China (Taiwan) according to the One China policy.
The House of Commons votes 356-244 in favour of joining the European Community.
Britain’s abortive space programme launches its first and only satellite from Woomera in Australia – the Prospero X-3, using the troubled Black Arrow carrier rocket.
An IRA bomb explodes at the top of the Post Office Tower in London, causing it to be closed to the public.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, ending with the independence of the former East Pakistan as Bangladesh.
The UK removes its military bases from Malta.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home (now Foreign Secretary to Heath) signs an agreement with Ian Smith to recognise the independence of Rhodesia. The Labour Party cries foul.
1972.
Bloody Sunday Massacre in Londonderry when British Army soldiers kill 14 unarmed nationalist protestors.
Pakistan withdraws from the Commonwealth.
British Embassy in Dublin burned to the ground by protestors.
The National Union of Mineworkers, led by Joe Gormley, goes on strike due to miners’ wages not rising in proportion to those of other manual labourers. The Heath Government reacts by declaring a state of emergency. A month later, Heath backs down and the miners are awarded a 21% increase in pay.
After this, the British economy undergoes a brief boom.
“Only Nixon could go to China”: President Nixon makes an unprecedented visit to the People’s Republic of China. As his anti-communist credentials are unquestionable, American commentators cannot spin this. In reaction, Britain enhances its own relations with the PRC and the two exchange ambassadors.
German Red Army Faction terrorists kill three American soldiers in Heidelberg.
Nixon and Brezhnev sign the SALT I treaty to reduce nuclear stockpiles.
British European Airways Flight 548 crashes in Staines after taking off from Heathrow, killing 118.
IRA bombs kill many across Northern Ireland.
Last US troops withdrawn from Vietnam.
British Education Secretary Margaret Thatcher advocates a policy of reducing expenditure in some areas to focus on others. The media seizes on the fact that this means an end to free milk in schools, dubbing her ‘Milk-snatcher Thatcher’. Less publicly, in her capacity as Science Minister, Thatcher meets with Heath and the two agree to realign British scientific research towards more utilitarian and practical goals.
Idi Amin, dictator of Uganda, starts deporting Asians and seizing their property.
Apollo 17. Eugene Cernan is the last man on the moon. Werner von Braun quits NASA in protest at Nixon scaling back the agency’s funding, effectively ending any prospect for future missions beyond Earth orbit.
At the Olympic Games in Munich, Palestinian terrorists kill two Israeli athletes and nine more are killed in a rescue attempt.
East and West Germany recognise each other.
Death of the Duke of Windsor (the former Edward VIII prior to his abdication).
Atari is founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney.
President Nixon defeats left-wing Democrat George McGovern in an election that is both a landslide (Nixon wins 60.7% of the vote) and has the lowest voter turnout since 1948 (55%).
1973.
The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the EC. When Heath goes to sign, a female protestor dumps ink all over him – obscurely, due to a completely unrelated protest about the redevelopment of Covent Garden.
Last of the Summer Wine airs for the first time on BBC 1.
IRA bombs (backed by Libyan dictator Muamar Gaddafi) strike the Old Bailey and Whitehall. A referendum in Northern Ireland affirms that it should remain part of the UK, but most nationalists boycott the poll.
New London Bridge opened by the Queen. Meanwhile in New York the World Trade Centre opens, while in Chicago the Sears Tower becomes the tallest building in the world.
Lofthouse Colliery Disaster in Yorkshire kills seven miners.
1.6 million British workers strike on May Day (after a call to do so by the Trade Union Congress) in protest of the Heath government’s anti-inflation policies (due to massive trade deficits). The National Union of Mineworkers now encourages miners to ‘work to order’ (do only the minimum of work to avoid being sacked) which causes coal stocks to dwindle.
Matters are made even worse when the Yom Kippur War breaks out in the Middle East. When the United States continues to resupply Israel with arms, the Arab members of OPEC retaliate by imposing a ruinous oil embargo on the West.
The House of Commons abolishes capital punishment in Northern Ireland.
NASA launches Skylab, America’s first space station.
The Greek junta abolishes the monarchy and declares the country a republic.
The Sunningdale Agreement. The Parliament of Northern Ireland, already suspended by the British Government, is abolished and replaced with a new Northern Ireland Assembly. Elections for the latter produce power-sharing results between unionists and nationalists for the first time. The new Executive is disrupted by unionist militants led by Ian Paisley.
Princess Anne marries Captain Mark Philips.
Throughout the year the Watergate Scandal rages throughout American politics.
Coal shortages caused by the NUM’s strike action cause Heath to institute the three-day week to reduce electricity consumption.
Unionists in Northern Ireland fall out with Sunningdale and the whole executive collapses. In protest, the Ulster Unionist Party – who had previously acted as the Northern Ireland wing of the Conservative Party – withdraw their eight MPs from the Conservative whip.
Elections in Argentina. Juan Perón is banned from running, but his stand-in Hector Cámpora is elected. In the midst of the oil crisis shaking Cámpora’s government, Perón finally returns from exile and becomes President once more.
1974.
Edward Heath, incensed with the miners, calls a general election under the slogan ‘Who Governs Britain?’, hoping for a popular mandate. The public is divided. Sympathy has started to turn, with the TUC becoming increasingly unpopular by an aggravated public. On the other hand, the Tories have certainly made a dog’s breakfast of it so far. This uncertainty is reflected in the election result: the first hung parliament since 1929.
Both major parties had also lost votes through voter dissatisfaction with them both. The Liberals had their best result for years with over six million votes, although the vagaries of first-past-the-post meant they only had 14 MPs. The Scottish National Party also made a major breakthrough, assisted perhaps by politics over North Sea oil. The vast number of one-off parties is illustrative of the public’s alarm and activism over the economic situation and course of the country.
Although Labour had won four more seats, according to constitutional convention Heath continued as interim PM to see if he could form a working majority. Heath approached Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe with the intent of forming a coalition government. Thorpe was wary. Even the Conservatives and Liberals together would only make 311 seats, seven short of a majority. Furthermore, the Liberal Party was disorganised, had just had an influx of new untried talent, and wasn’t ready for the compromises needed to be in power – particularly considering the general trend of thought in the party was anti-Conservative. Most of the Liberals’ seats were straight Liberal vs. Conservative contests where Labour had no significant presence.
Having failed, Heath therefore resigned as Prime Minister and Wilson became PM again, forming a minority Labour government. He quickly gave in to the miners’ demands, temporarily stabilising the economic situation.
The last two Japanese soldier holdouts from the Second World War, Hiroo Onoda and Teruo Nakamura, surrender in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively.
End of the Arab oil embargo (except from Libya), although the lasting effects of 1973 will be felt for a long time.
The Carnation Revolution in Portugal overthrows the Estado Novo regime and democracy is restored. The Portuguese colonies in Africa, which the old regime had been grimly trying to hold on to, are conditionally granted independence after negotiations.
Italian neo-fascist terrorists bomb a train.
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia overthrown by the Derg, a communist junta.
Turkey invades Cyprus in response to concerns that the island might attempt union with Greece. The unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is established.
The IRA bombs two pubs in Birmingham, killing 21 people. Two pubs in Guildford frequented by WRACS female officers are blown up later in the year.
An assassination attempt on Princess Anne fails.
Traditional counties are mucked about with by the government for the first time since the thirteenth century.
Enoch Powell caused scandals by urging voters to vote Labour due to the Conservatives favouring EC membership. He breaks with the Conservatives and joins the Ulster Unionist Party, being elected for South Down later in the year. He rejects sectarianism and attempts to pursue a course by which Northern Ireland would be treated no differently to the rest of the UK.
The Watergate scandal ends in the resignation of President Nixon. Nixon’s Vice-President, Spiro Agnew, had already resigned and been replaced with Republican Minority Leader Gerald Ford. Therefore, Ford becomes the first unelected President of the United States.
In Argentina, Juan Perón dies of old age and his wife Isábel takes over as President. She tries to carry on in his stead, but fails to effectively respond to economic troubles and the terrorist activities of the communist group
Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo (People’s Revolutionary Army or ERP).
Disappearance of Lord Lucan.
Harold Wilson calls a second election. This time, Labour wins a tiny majority of three.
There are calls from the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee for Heath to stand down, but there is as yet no formal procedure for challenging an incumbent leader. Heath agrees to review the rules and puts himself up for re-election. (Subsequent to this, the Conservative leader will be up for party election annually, although this is usually a formality).
Cabinet members of Her Majesty’s Government
(as of October 1974)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service: Harold Wilson
Lord Chancellor: Elwyn Jones, Baron Elwyn-Jones
Lord President of the Council: Edward Short
Lord Privy Seal: Malcom Shepherd, Baron Shepherd
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Denis Healey
Foreign Secretary: James Callaghan
Home Secretary: Roy Jenkins
Defence Secretary: Roy Mason
Education and Science Secretary: Reg Prentice
Energy Secretary: Eric Varley
Environment Secretary: Anthony Crosland
Social Services Secretary: Barbara Castle
Industry Secretary: Tony Benn
Prices and Consumer Protection Secretary: Shirley Williams
Trade Secretary: Peter Shore
Transport Secretary: William Rodgers
Scottish Secretary: William Ross
Welsh Secretary: John Morris
Northern Ireland Secretary: Merlyn Rees
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Harold Lever
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: Robert Mellish
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Fred Peart
Minister for Planning and Local Government: John Silkin
1975.
Work is abandoned on the British end of the Channel Tunnel.
The Conservative leadership election produces a shock result. Former Education Minister Margaret Thatcher, moving steadily to the right, had intended to endorse Sir Keith Joseph for the leadership. However, Joseph elected not to run due to controversy he had provoked over comments in which he appeared to endorse eugenics. Thatcher ran herself instead and beat Heath convincingly, though not quite sufficiently under the rules (which required 50%) to win outright.
Heath then resigned and a second ballot was held in which Thatcher easily defeated Willie Whitelaw, the candidate of the establishment. For the first time, a major British political party had a female leader.
Microsoft is founded by Bill Gates in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
End of the Vietnam War with the fall of Saigon.
Sikkim votes in a referendum to join India.
The Suez Canal opens for the first time since 1967’s Six-Day War.
Independence of Portugal’s African colonies, which mostly become Communist states. Other independences of the year include Papua New Guinea from Australia and Suriname from the Netherlands.
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project marks the end of the first stage of the Space Race and is a signal of the coming era of détente.
Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain, is too ill to govern and dies before the end of the year. King Juan Carlos I takes over as head of state.
Australian constitutional crisis when the Governor-General dismisses Gough Whitlam’s government.
The G-6 is formed.
Ronald Reagan enters the race to become the Republican candidate in the 1976 presidential election, challenging incumbent Gerald Ford.
Labour’s election manifesto committed it to a referendum on EC membership. The Cabinet is divided over the EC, with left-wing members such as Tony Benn, Michael Foot and Peter Shore campaigning for a ‘no’ vote while Wilson and the others campaign for a ‘yes’. Most Conservatives also campaign for a ‘yes’, as do the strongly Eurofederalist Liberals. The UUP, thanks to Powell’s influence, campaigns for ‘no’. In the end, a resounding 67.2% of the electorate on a 64.5% turnout votes to stay in the EC. This endorsement strengthens Wilson’s position and weakens that of the Labour left – for now.
Aston Martin sold to the International Semi-Conductor Company of America.
Dutch Elm Disease devastates Britain’s elms.
The economy is still in poor shape. Employment has hit a million, the pound is worth only 75% what it was in 1971, and prices have risen by an average of 22%.