#28
View attachment 432997
UK General Election, 25 November, 1982
Turnout 78.2% (up 2.2%)
SDP-ONP-Liberal Alliance 334 seats (55.1% of the popular vote)
Conservative Party 167 seats (20% of the popular vote)
Labour Party 128 seats (20.3% of the popular vote)
Other Parties 21 seats (4.6% of the popular vote)
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The Oval Office
“Morning, Bill.”
“Morning, Mr. President.”
“Did they tell you I want five minutes on top to talk about the UK?”
“Yeah. Damned thing. And an alliance of three parties. Who do you even wire to congratulate?”
“It’ll be David Steel. Jenkins was the agreed-upon figure before One Nation joined their little coalition, but Steel triangulates better between the three factions.”
“Ah. Well, I’ve glanced at the briefing from State. No real red flags, here. Mostly good news for us, I gather. Pro-NATO. Pro-European Community, and I know you want to push integration.”
“Yes. Though I doubt it’ll matter much.”
“Sir?”
“We might be calling them ‘Alliance’ now, but remember these are three distinct entities. This will be a short government.”
“You’re thinking infighting? Crash and burn?”
“Maybe. If they’re clever, they’ll go for a controlled landing. Focus on some flavor of election reform that makes all factions viable in the next election. Then just carry on long enough to develop a reputation with the voters. There are a few other things they can agree on- incidentally, I hear their manifesto has some interesting ideas on worker participation in the boardroom, I’ve requested a copy.”
“Good lord. Fine, sir, just for your own edification this time, though?”
“Bill, I’ll take a good idea from any place I can find it. And right now Britain’s dealing with the same problems we’ll be dealing with in a few years if the Conservatives hang on here. This could be the roadmap for how a majoritarian government transitions to something more representative.”
“The party doesn’t want the system to be more representative. The Democrats don’t want it, either. Their coalition would split into twenty pieces if we instituted STV. We’d probably split as well. And we’d certainly never have freedom of action again.”
“I’m exploring all possibilities, Bill. We’re going to need an answer before too long, mark my words. And it just might be that we’re in the driver’s seat when the decision needs to be made. Maybe you should read it, too.”
“...Yes, sir.”
“Are you pouting.”
“No. Just some residual distaste for reading anything called a ‘manifesto.’”
“Maybe I should write a manifesto.”
“Good lord.”
“The Anderson Manifesto!”
“I’ll call Random House.”