DBWI: No Socialist Party in the UK

[glenn67]

In 1966, a rift in the governing Labour Party between its right and left wings resulted in Tony Benn and his allies reviving the British Socialist Party (BSP) and bringing down Harold Wilson's government.

Since then, the BSP was able to form several governments in coalition with various regional parties including Plaid Cymru, SDLP and the Greens. At one time, the BSP even had a majority government led by Benn (1975-1976) until James Callaghan led Labour back into power.

What if Benn stayed in Labour?

1. Would Margaret Thatcher have had a longer tenure as Prime Minister? In OTL, David Steel led the Liberals to a landslide victory in 1980 and served as PM until 1989.

2. Would a Thatcher government lasting past 1980 butterfly away that IRA terrorist attack on the Conservative Party conference that ended her life in 1984?

3. Would Diana Spencer-Hewitt still become PM in 2010?

4. Would Paddy Ashdown and Tony Blair still become PM?

5. Would Neil Kinnock become leader of the Labour Party in a BSP-less UK? (IOTL, he succeeded Benn as BSP leader in 1982)

6. Would Nigel Lawson still have become Conservative Party leader in 1984?

 

[Meadow]

OOC: The number of premises in the OP make this basically an RP that you've set the rules for, and Tony Benn was not on the left of the Labour Party in 1966.

EDIT: As I may have come across a bit blunt here, I think this is an interesting concept but it'd work better as a TL. I'd read it. I do think the POD is a bit implausible, particularly as Benn, like I said, wasn't particularly left-wing until the 1970s.

 

[Maeglin]

OOC: The number of premises in the OP make this basically an RP that you've set the rules for, and Tony Benn was not on the left of the Labour Party in 1966.

EDIT: As I may have come across a bit blunt here, I think this is an interesting concept but it'd work better as a TL. I'd read it. I do think the POD is a bit implausible, particularly as Benn, like I said, wasn't particularly left-wing until the 1970s.

(OOC: Not to mention that even when Benn became a leftwing firebrand, his loyalty to the Labour Party was absolute).

 

[Jonathan]

First off can I have, what ever you have taken to have this vision lol

In 1966, a rift in the governing Labour Party between its right and left wings resulted in Tony Benn and his allies reviving the British Socialist Party (BSP) and bringing down Harold Wilson's government.

Since then, the BSP was able to form several governments in coalition with various regional parties including Plaid Cymru, SDLP and the Greens. At one time, the BSP even had a majority government led by Benn (1975-1976) until James Callaghan led Labour back into power.

What if Benn stayed in Labour?

If you make him more radical with Calliaghan and Wilson seen as more conservative, you could have him encouraged by hardcore older socialist who want a young face to lead them to victory.

1. Would Margaret Thatcher have had a longer tenure as Prime Minister? In OTL, David Steel led the Liberals to a landslide victory in 1980 and served as PM until 1989.

David Steel was not a bad prime minister, even after losing the Falkland War but would have been nice to see how Maggie would have delt with the office

2. Would a Thatcher government lasting past 1980 butterfly away that IRA terrorist attack on the Conservative Party conference that ended her life in 1984?

If she was busier doing paper work she might not have been in the bathing in the bath when the bomb went off
(Ooc sorry for putting that image of a naked Thatcher lathering her body in the bath)

3. Would Diana Spencer-Hewitt still become PM in 2010?

What else would Lady Di be doing, she brought glamour and sex appeal to an office that had been famously just old men . And I'm really happy to see her son Harry carring on her liberal and humanity policies

4. Would Paddy Ashdown and Tony Blair still become PM?

Of cause ashdown will be PM I can not think of a timeline where he would not be prime minister althogh Blair was just lucky to win his election. Just glad that he was empeached and sentenced to prison.

5. Would Neil Kinnock become leader of the Labour Party in a BSP-less UK? (IOTL, he succeeded Benn as BSP leader in 1982)

Kinnock never really had the appeal of being prime minister that is why the BSP chose to elect Yvette Cooper of ed miliband

6. Would Nigel Lawson still have become Conservative Party leader in 1984?

Who else would they choose John Major lol don't make me laught