alternatehistory.com

Western Liberal Democracy

1945-1947: John Platts-Mills (Labour)
1945 def: Winston Churchill (Conservative), Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal), Ernest Brown (National Liberal)
1947-1949: Ernest Brown (Conservative-National Liberal-Liberal coalition)
1949-1950: Winston Churchill (Conservative minority)
1950-1952: Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal-Labour coalition)
1950 def: Ernest Brown (National Liberal), Manny Shinwell (Labour), Winston Churchill (Conservative)
1952-1955: Sir Richard Acland (Liberal-Labour coalition)
1955-1961: James Henderson-Stewart (National Liberal-Conservative coalition)
1955 def: Sir Richard Acland (Liberal), Anthony Eden (Conservative), Manny Shinwell (Labour)
1960 def: A. V. Alexander (Liberal (Co-operative)), R. A. Butler (Conservative), Manny Shinwell (Labour), Gwilym Lloyd George (Independent Liberal)
1961-1966: Harold Macmillan (National Liberal-Conservative coalition)
1961 def: Dingle Foot (Liberal), R. A. Butler (Conservative), Jim Griffiths (Labour)
1966-1966: Megan Lloyd George (Liberal-Labour)
1966 def: Harold Macmillan (National Liberal), R. A. Butler (Conservative), Collective Leadership (Socialist Party)
1966-1975: Anthony Crosland (Liberal-Labour)
1971 def: David Renton (National Liberal), Enoch Powell (Conservative)
1975-1976: Roy Jenkins (Liberal-Labour)
1976-1979: Jeremy Thorpe (National Liberal)
1976 def: Roy Jenkins (Liberal-Labour), Enoch Powell (Conservative)
1979-1981: David Renton (National Liberal)

In 1945, a radical left-wing Labour government scrapes in with a narrow majority, and immediately there is evidence that British military secrets have been given to the Soviets. Disquiet mounts as unpopular measures take the shine off the propaganda victory that is the new NHS, and after a few by-election losses, the three major opposition parties oust Platts-Mills in a vote of confidence. They are united under Ernest Brown, who is more acceptable to the Liberals than Churchill is, but before the 1950 election, Churchill's ego can take this no more, and he forms a minority government with support from some moderate Labour MPs.

The electorate do not take kindly to either Labour's treachery or Churchill's egotism, and in a surprise move, the Liberals and National Liberals (having removed themselves from the ambit of the Tories over the Brown affair) become the two largest parties. However, the emotions of the 1930s have not yet healed, and the two Liberal parties cannot work together. This sets the stage for the radical realignment of post-war British politics...