You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
Mumby - 1_Red_Great_Britain
War Plan Red
1_Red_Great_Britain
1942-1945: Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (National leading Emergency Government with National Conservatives, National Labour and National Liberals)
1945-1947: David Eisenhower (US Military Occupation)
1947-1959: Richard Acland (Common Wealth) 1947 (Popular Front with the Socialist League and Democratic Liberals) def. Bob Boothby (Constitutionalist), ['Worker's Crossbenchers'],Malcolm MacDonald (National Electoral Organisation)
1951 (Popular Front with the Socialist League and Democratic Liberals) def. Anthony Eden (Constitutionalist), [Worker's Crossbenchers],Malcolm MacDonald (National Electoral Organisation)
1955 (Popular Front with the Socialist League and Democratic Liberals) def. Anthony Eden (Constitutionalist), Rab Butler (National Reform), [Worker's Crossbenchers] 1959-1967: Harold Macmillan (Democratic Front) 1959 (Minority with support from some Workers' Crossbenchers) def. Tom Driberg (Common Wealth --- Popular Front), Nye Bevan (Socialist League --- Popular Front), [Workers' Crossbenchers], Megan Lloyd George (Democratic Liberal --- Popular Front)
1964 (Minority) def. Tom Driberg (Common Wealth --- Popular Front), Harold Wilson (Socialist League --- Popular Front), [Workers' Crossbenchers], Megan Lloyd George (Democratic Liberal --- Popular Front) 1967-1975: James L. Callaghan (Common Wealth) 1968 (Popular Front with the Socialist League, Workers' Crossbenchers, and Democratic Liberals) def. vacant (Democratic Front) 1972 (Popular Front with the Socialist League, Workers' Crossbenchers, and Democratic Liberals) def. John Profumo (Democratic Front)
Aitken's crypto-fascist government fell thanks to invasion by the forces of the Western International, led by the United States of America which had turned to Industrial Government after the crises of the 1910s and 20s. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance had ultimately brought the British Empire and the United States to blows and while Aitken had slipped into power and proved a competent war commander, there was little the tired Empire could do against the blooming industrial might of the USA.
In the peace, Eisenhower ruled Britain, as Supreme Commander of the International Legion. Britain became a de facto American protectorate, their fortress in Europe, facing toward the Americans' rivals in the Eastern International. They took the shattered political parties, either discredited by the war or blinking in the sunlight having emerged from under the boot of the Q Brigades, and remoulded them to turn Britain into a model of Industrial Government. The moribund remnants of the Labour Party were merged with the Communists to form the Socialist League, while Common Wealth became the Western International's sword. The more acceptable right-wingers formed the Constitutionalist Party, marking themselves in their opposition to the policies of the Aitken Ministry and also to the shape of the newborn Democratic Commonwealth of Great Britain.
In 1947, civilian government was re-established, and the new Prime Minister eagerly continued the process of establishing American style Industrial Government. The rubble of the old House of Commons was cleared away, and the ruins buttressed with concrete. A memorial garden now stands in the old chamber. The new Parliament was unicameral and sat in what had previously been called the House of Lords. Crossbenchers were appointed, delegates from the worker controlled communes which had been established in the dying days of the Aitken Ministry, from the Armed Forces, and other notable figures. Eisenhower was offered a seat but did not take it.
Industrial Government meant democratic control of industry and with American support, mutualisation of the commanding heights of industry was eagerly supported. The scant web of a welfare state, cut to the bone by the demands of total war by Aitken, was strengthened into a true social safety net, with William Beveridge of the Democratic Liberals forming the pillars of the modern British state. A programme of National Reconstruction, modelled after the United States' own Blue Eagle Scheme, was pursued leading to rebuilding of Britain's bombed cities, and the modernisation of a rail network torn by Resistance saboteurs and American GIs. Hundreds of thousands of homes were built, in the new model of Neighbourhood Collectives.
The Opposition was weak, but was strengthening, especially as the Nationals reformed and then formed the Democratic Front with the Constitutionalists. They had largely given in to the consensus of Industrial Government, much like the Democratic-Republicans in the United States. They had even given in to accepting the new form of republican government. But they were opposed to the militarisation and overbearing security state. A great deal of British industry had been put to work manufacturing weapons and vessels for the US Navy and the South Coast had been fortified to deter any European invasion. American bases dotted Britain, and 'subversives' were pursued with a fanatical fervour. There was deep paranoia of infiltrators from the 'social fascists' of the Eastern International.
In 1959, the Popular Front lost it's majority and Harold Macmillan was able to win over enough Crossbenchers to maintain power. He enlarged his seat count in 1964, but still didn't manage a majority. While he did not seek to tear down Industrial Government as Tom Driberg had warned, he did try and row Britain out of the American sphere of influence, seeking to bridge the Atlantic divide, opening up diplomatic relations with the French Soviet Republic, and attempting to cut military expenditure. In 1967, it finally proved too much for Washington, who sponsored a coup led by Rear Admiral Callaghan, who cleared out the 'reactionaries' from the Crossbench and refilled it with yes-men. In 1968, he won a clear majority over a leaderless Democratic Front. Macmillan languished in the Tower of London, and the party remained reluctant to forsake him. In 1971, American interference ensured a figure they could control became leader of the Opposition. Industrial Government was safe, for now.