alternatehistory.com
Chapter Five:
Chapter Five:
Reginald Maudling would cut taxes and increase public spending however he is only ever remembered for one thing: dying. Maudling would die at the age of 62 on the 10th April 1979, just 9 months after entering number 10. His funeral was attended by the Queen, Prince Charles, Ted Heath, President Carter and many other world leaders.
View attachment 572360
Reginald Maudling: 1917-1979
With only a month until the election, Ted Heath agreed to stand in as acting Prime Minister until after the election. The 1979 Conservative leadership election was hotly contested, with Maggie Thatcher, Willie Whitelaw and Geoffrey Howe all vying for a chance at the leadership. The relatively new Howe polled only 12% of the vote. Whitelaw gained 32%, and Thatcher 56%. On the 18th April 1979, Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party.
The 1979 General Election was overwhelming for Labour, who gained 60 seats, almost all of which were taken from the Tories in a targeted campaign. The Liberals also failed to make any gains, losing two seats. Other parties took home ten between them.
View attachment 572366
Dennis Healey hadn’t expected to become Prime Minister
With a solid cabinet of several old hands like Roy Jenkins (Chancellor), new hands like Roy Hattersley (Home) and radical hands like Michael Foot (Foreign), Healey expected to do well in the polls. Meanwhile Margaret Thatcher and her personality based campaign seemed not to wash with the electorate, and the party lost 58 seats overall. Questions over her ability to lead the Tories to victory were frequently asked but Thatcher dodged them, for now.
Reginald Maudling would cut taxes and increase public spending however he is only ever remembered for one thing: dying. Maudling would die at the age of 62 on the 10th April 1979, just 9 months after entering number 10. His funeral was attended by the Queen, Prince Charles, Ted Heath, President Carter and many other world leaders.
View attachment 572360
Reginald Maudling: 1917-1979
With only a month until the election, Ted Heath agreed to stand in as acting Prime Minister until after the election. The 1979 Conservative leadership election was hotly contested, with Maggie Thatcher, Willie Whitelaw and Geoffrey Howe all vying for a chance at the leadership. The relatively new Howe polled only 12% of the vote. Whitelaw gained 32%, and Thatcher 56%. On the 18th April 1979, Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party.
The 1979 General Election was overwhelming for Labour, who gained 60 seats, almost all of which were taken from the Tories in a targeted campaign. The Liberals also failed to make any gains, losing two seats. Other parties took home ten between them.
View attachment 572366
Dennis Healey hadn’t expected to become Prime Minister
With a solid cabinet of several old hands like Roy Jenkins (Chancellor), new hands like Roy Hattersley (Home) and radical hands like Michael Foot (Foreign), Healey expected to do well in the polls. Meanwhile Margaret Thatcher and her personality based campaign seemed not to wash with the electorate, and the party lost 58 seats overall. Questions over her ability to lead the Tories to victory were frequently asked but Thatcher dodged them, for now.
- Britannia238
- Word Count: 260