Alternate Wikipedia Infoboxes V (Do Not Post Current Politics Here)
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As in the case with campaigns around the globe, the central issue facing the British electorate during the 2010 election was the economy. Gone were the days of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown pledging to never again return to the gloomy days of Tory boom and bust, replaced instead with economic bailouts, rising unemployment, and voter discontent with the party that had governed Britain continuously for thirteen years. At first it appeared to be an opportunity for Gordon Brown, a moment to secure his legacy as Prime Minister, while at the same time setting himself and Labour up for re-election. Britain’s one-time Iron Chancellor immediately implemented a £500 billion spending package, all in the hopes of stopping further bleeding and restore consumer confidence in the banking system, which appeared to be teetering towards complete collapse. Despite praise from global economists, such as Paul Krugman, for having led the way for how to implement the recovery, Brown’s intervention wouldn’t be enough to save his party from losing countless by-elections, as well as the London Mayoral Election to the Tories’ David Cameron. Before long, some Labour MPs began openly suggesting that new leadership would be needed if the party was to survive the economic storm and keep hold of power. Thankfully for the Prime Minister, his cabinet, even the most ambitious few, lined up to announce their support of the man whose success they relied upon to continue their own. Luckily for Labour, despite all the by-election loses, their disastrous showing in both local and European elections, some voters still had trouble imagining Tory leader David Davis as an alternative Prime Minister. Although Davis came from the party’s right-wing, he remained a political realist, and sought outreach to those like Ken Clarke. Other attempts to moderate the party were met with the expected resistance that had defined the Tory party for decades. As for Chris Huhne, the trouble facing the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh wasn’t his ability to attack Brown or Davis, or his party’s performance in recent elections, but rather his name recognition. Hardly anyone knew who the Lib Dem leader was, making Huhne’s objective to increase his party’s standing in the House all the more difficult.
Still, for much of the campaign, voter apathy towards Labour and the desire for change appeared to override any potential fears of a Tory government. After thirteen years out of power, Conservatives were desperate, and many within the party believed that a campaign fought on the economy would better play to their strengths. With millions unemployed, countless small businesses forced out of business, and a government increasingly coming off as arrogant, Gordon Brown’s untouchable record on finances was no longer above reproach. But desperation for power could not prevent Tory candidates from making statements that derailed the official party message, including attacks against homosexuality, social programs, and the like. Although he used such statements to portray the Conservatives as the same old party which Labour had bested countless times before, Brown himself was not immune to embarrassing misstatements. After one faithful encounter with a disgruntled BNP candidate, reportedly a former Labour voter disillusioned with the party, the Prime Minister was reported to have called him bigoted following his comments that immigrants were taking benefits away from native born British citizens. Brown would subsequently apologize for the statement, for while most voters agreed with the Prime Minister’s assertion, many believed that Brown had acted unprofessionally in his capacity as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
The election was also notable for being the first to include a debate between the three main party leaders. Although each of the leaders dreaded the notion of standing on a stage with one another, and their less-than charismatic nature did not necessarily lend themselves to the kind of debates traditionally held in the United States, public demand for one caused Huhne to publicly agree, followed by both Brown and Davis. None of the leaders could afford to appear frightened of their opponents, or the opportunity to at least one debate. Divided into three subjects, domestic, international, and economic affairs, voters from across the country hoped they would be able to witness a far more structured debate compared to the meaningless bickering constantly on display during PMQs. Instead, what they got was a generally lackluster affair between three men who, as expected, lacked the ability to provide a spirited television spectacle that many had yearned for. Gordon Brown often appeared either consumed by his own economic jargon, or uninterested in debating his opponents. David Davis appeared focused, but lacked the warmth and authenticity voters expected of a potential Prime Minister. Chris Huhne was eager to attack the record of his opponents, yet was himself criticized for failing to offer any clear alternative policies to either Labour’s or the Conservative’s election manifestos.
For the longest time, most pollsters indicated that the election was likely to produce the first Hung Parliament since the “Who Governs?” election of February 1974. They were right. On Election Night David Dimbleby announced that the Conservatives would likely emerge as the largest party in Parliament, but more than thirty seats short of an overall majority. As the night progressed, Tory fears were further realized; most undecided voters had rallied behind Labour in the dying days of the campaign, fearful of possible cuts to the NHS and other social programs in an attempt to curb spending. With the Conservatives on 292 seats and Labour on 279, neither party would be able to govern by themselves. They both needed the Liberal Democrats, and by extension Chris Huhne, if they were to cross the finish line. Making matters worse, accusations of voter fraud, postal ballots in several close constituencies, it all meant that the parties were to move fast before anything unexpected derailed negotiations. Thus began three days of behind the scenes negotiations that would ultimately decide who would reside in 10 Downing Street. Declaring publicly that he was open to negotiating with both the Tories and Labour, Huhne assembled a team comprised of Tom Brake, Nick Clegg, Paul Holmes, Vince Cable, and John Leech. Although the Conservative Team, headed by Shadow Chancellor Damian Green, made some progress when it came to some shared economic matters, most Lib Dems conceded that Labour was their more natural ally, and that meeting with the Conservatives was but a political move aimed at securing the best possible deal from Gordon Brown. With the Tory delegation lukewarm to any moves towards concrete electoral reform involving alternative vote, and Labour more than happy to provide a referendum, the only issue left to deal with was Gordon Brown. Having Brown continue on as Prime Minister was never in the cards for Chris Huhne or his team. Brown had been Prime Minister for roughly six years, and it was unthinkable for a man who voters had rendered second, albeit a close second, to stay on. If he were allowed to remain, any possible coalition with Labour could appear as a coup, even if it fell within parliamentary procedure. Certainly the Tories would spin it that way, and no one was eager to make that job any easier for David Davis. Hence when the Lib Dems requested Brown step down within the first three months of the new government’s swearing in, it was begrudgingly accepted by Labour High Command.
After thirteen years in power, Labour would soldier on with the Liberal Democrats. Gordon Brown would remain Prime Minister until a successor was chosen, while Chris Huhne would serve as Deputy Prime Minister, with an assortment of other Lib Dems in cabinet. As to who Labour would choose to succeed Brown, pundits and onlookers began drawing up lists of names of men and women, one of whom would be given the difficult honor of leading the three-hundred-and-thirty-two seat coalition government, the first of its kind since the Second World War.
Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom:
Harold Wilson (Labour) 1964-1970
Edward Heath (Conservative) 1970-1974
Harold Wilson (Labour) 1974-1976
James Callaghan (Labour) 1976-1979
Margaret Thatcher (Conservative) 1979-1990
John Major (Conservative) 1990-1997
Tony Blair (Labour) 1997-2004
Gordon Brown (Labour) 2004-
Leaders of the Official Opposition:
Edward Heath (Conservative) 1965-1970
Harold Wilson (Labour) 1970-1974
Edward Heath (Conservative) 1974-1975
Margaret Thatcher (Conservative) 1975-1979
James Callaghan (Labour) 1979-1980
Michael Foot (Labour) 1980-1983
Neil Kinnock (Labour) 1983-1992
John Smith (Labour) 1992-1994
Margaret Beckett (Labour) 1994
Tony Blair (Labour) 1994-1997
John Major (Conservative) 1997
Michael Howard (Conservative) 1997-2001
William Hague (Conservative) 2001-2005
David Davis (Conservative) 2005-
Dont be ridiculous. The reason its used by them is because someone said it was a racist symbol and in defence the alt-right adopted it. This debate belongs in a different thread.
Porgism
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Huey Long is perhaps the most influential American politician of the 20th century if not in all of American History. From being raised in poverty in a poor parish in Louisiana to becoming the Senator who forged an new nation rising from the ashes of the old dead America. His "Share our Wealth" programs preserved the prosperity of the common man while preventing any sympathies to the Dreaded Syndicalists. While the road to victory in the Second Civil War was an long and arduous journey, after 4 years of brutal war, the Union finally prevailed and restored a government by the people and for the people. Long Live Long, Long live the Union State!
Porgism
Banned
Well well well, someone beat me to it
Wait a second, are you the guy who started off the wikibox trend on /r/Kaiserreich ? If so, then I must say that your posts got me inspired to make an account here( amongst other reasons). So thanks I guess!
Yes I am, I’m surprised and pleased by the amount of WikiBoxes that have showed up in /r/Kaiserreich. This place is incredible to say the least, and I look forward to your future posts.
Would Mrs. Thatcher really run after being defeated in 1975?
I'd guess that someone like Geoffrey Rippon, Geoffrey Howe, James Prior or perhaps Francis Pym would run and potentially win.
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