"A Very British Transition" - A Post-Junta Britain TL

[powerab]

How has the rest of the world particular the Commonwealth nations reacted to Britain's coup?

Mostly negative, the US was the Junta's only real ally but as the Berlin Wall fell the need for an anti-communist bastion in Britain fell with it so even they have moved away from supporting the Junta.

The Commonwealth is still in place, mostly out of loyalty to the Queen, but Britain's global standing has fallen considerably, especially with the anglophone liberal democracies like Canada, Australia and New Zealand which host a large number of British exiles.

Relations with Ireland are especially poor as Northern Ireland has essentially been under full military occupation for decades.

 

[powerab]

Did General Walter C. Walker play a role in the coup or in the consequent regime? Was Wilson executed under allegations of treason due him being “exposed” as a Soviet spy? I’m pondering how much will be more integrated EU without UK as member state.

Yes Walter was one of the main supporters of the Junta and was a senior figure in the Hardliner faction of National. Civil Assistance, the organisation he helped founded, grew into a pro-Junta paramilitary group, peaking in the 70s with over a hundred thou. sand alleged members. Whilst The Regime denied funding the CA, it did conveniently go after the Regime's enemies. CA would gradually fade over the 80s and 90s but there are fears it could reemerge as a backlash to the transition.

The official story is on the day of the coup Wilson took his own life, however this is contested.

The EU is smaller and more integrated, especially amidst the original six. Since Britain and the Heath administration led the charge for EU enlargement, Ireland and Denmark wouldn't join until the early 80s. There are currently 14 Member States, the original six plus Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Sweden and Finland. The OTL 2004 enlargements are still undergoing negotiation and their is talk Britain could join in that wave of enlargement.

 

[saluto]

I imagine NATO would fracture if this happened? France pretty much left anyway in ‘66 and this could open the flood gates.

 

[TRH]

As @saluto said is the short version.

To be honest the initial PoD is fairly ASB. Which is why I don't go into a huge amount of detail around the coup and the Junta years. In my head essentially the Wilson of this TL is more the Bevanite Wilson of the 50s, rather than the moderate he turned into in opposition. So for Mountbatten and the British establishment mass nationalisations and withdrawal from NATO are seen as a genuine threat, leading them to step in. But again this is fairly implausible so I'm trying to keep it vague for the sake of the story.

I can respect that. Because I understood where you were going with this I wasn't planning on being super-strict about how convincing the lead-in to the coup would be, I just felt like that's the sort of thing you lead into rather than a POD itself. A more radical Wilson ministry is good enough for me given my limited knowledge of the period.

 

[powerab]

I imagine NATO would fracture if this happened? France pretty much left anyway in ‘66 and this could open the flood gates.

One of the primary motivators behind the coup was preventing Britain from leaving the US NATO orbit. So whilst the Junta was expelled from NATO they remained a major non-NATO ally holding close relations with NATO. NATO is still in one piece and Britain seems likely to rejoin.

 

[powerab]

(Big Ben Chimes)

SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC WIN

FORECAST SDP LARGEST PARTY WITH 233 SEATS

Andrew Marr - As Big Ben strikes ten, for the first time in forty years, I can give you our BBC exit poll. The SDP is the largest party but 16 seats away from an overall majority on 233 seats. The National Party on 189 seats. The Socialist Alternative on 22. RISE on 15. The SNP on 12, and all other parties on 26 seats. A very dramatic result, what do you think of this result Jeremy?

Jeremy Paxman - Well it looks like the public have decisively repudiated the National Party. Some in the party had hoped that Tim Collins would be popular enough to allow them to hold on but this doesn't seem to have happened. Considering both the SA and RISE lean towards the left I can't see a scenario where General Collins enters Downing Street. A victory for Mr Johnson, the SDP is a broad tent party all pulling in different directions and this former postman has managed to hold them all together, he now looks likely to be the first civilian Prime Minister in a long time.

AM - Yes whilst our polls predicted the SDP to be the largest party, their lead here is larger than many had predicted.

JP - If this exit poll is true the knives will be out for General Collins. He was tapped as a compromise between the reformist and hardliner wings of National, the idea was his time in Belfast would shield him from some of the shenanigans over the last few years but that clearly hasn't happened. It remains to be seen whether Collins will make it to be even Leader of the Opposition.

AM - Yes looking at these results it looks like Mr Johnson has three options really, he can try and form some kind of coalition with the SA or the Separatists. He could try and bring National into the tent in some sort of grand coalition, or he could some to some kind of less formal arrangements and strike out a minority government.

JP - Mr Johnson has said on the campaign trail that he wanted a clean break from the Junta years, so a grand coalition seems unlikely, that said he will still want to keep the military onside if he wants to get anywhere.

AM - Speaking of coalitions we have with us in the studio Ms Lynne Jones, Deputy Leader of the Socialist Alternative and candidate in the West Midlands. Ms Jones how does as Cabinet job sound to you?...

 

[powerab]

“This result has shown us facts that we’ve always known to be true. That the British people don’t want more of the same, the British people don’t want us to go backwards. This victory is the work of a coalition of forces across Britain, from those who joined me on the picket line in 2003, to the students who stormed their university building. We will now seek to build a Britain for everyone, that work starts now. We will modernise our economy and bring Britain back to the heart of global trade. We will put an end to political violence, to those who lay down their arms and seek peace through the ballot box. We welcome you. For those who continue to impose their way of life through bombs and bullets, we will find you. Finally, I say to our friends watching abroad, Britain is back. Did you miss us?" - Alan Johnson’s Speech Outside SDP HQ (2005)

The SDP outperformed even their exit poll, winning 48% of the vote and 237 seats. Now all eyes fell to Alan Johnson, the orphan postman who had built up Britain’s trade union movement from nothing to a non-violent icon. Over-excited journalists around the world compared Johnson to Mandela or Ghandi in a rather embarrassing display.Just as Clement Attlee had rebuilt Britain after World War Two, it fell to Alan Johnson to unite his country and win the peace.

Now came the issue of forming a Government. Johnson was reluctant to cooperate with other parties in the Commons, especially the SA and RISE who had been founded by violent activists. Johnson worried the message bringing former terrorists into the Cabinet would send to the international community. More pressing was how the military responded, some officers had grumbled about “stepping in” if the “wrong sorts” were elected to Government, Johnson had a dangerous tightrope to walk.

Jubilant SDP supporters celebrated across the country

Working with National on the other hand also wasn’t particularly appealing. Whilst Johnson got on with Collins, both working class men from the more deprived areas of Britain, he distrusted the hardliners and the toffs pulling Collins’ strings. The last thing he wanted was to get the bastards out only to invite them back into Downing Street. Threats of further attacks by the various Red Brigades active in Britain’s major cities also made Johnson think twice about picking up the phone to Collins.

After discussions with his advisers and the leadership of the SA. Johnson and McDonnell hammered out a minority agreement. The SA would support the SDP in confidence votes and other essential legislation in return from stronger spending on social security and reform of the military. For the first time in 40 years a non-National Government was agreed, and with both men shaking hands and signing off, Johnson went to see the Queen. After a cup of tea and a chat, Johnson got her majesty’s blessing, and began to form a Cabinet.

The new Prime Minister had to juggle the various wings of his party, and avoid angering the military

“The leader of Britain’s ruling National Party has conceded defeat to Alan Johnson after the SDP secured majority support in parliament. “It looks from the way in which the negotiations are going that Mr Johnson is going to win it for the SDP,” Collins said in a speech. Johnson’s party secured a historic victory having won 237 parliamentary seats. The SDP needed 12 more seats to form a functioning majority. The National Party and the Socialist Alternative picked up 189 and 23 seats respectively. Smaller parties or independents won 48 seats. With the support of the Socialist Alternative Mr Johnson now has a majority of 11. Johnson addressed reporters shortly after returning from Buckingham Palace. “It’s a tremendous honour and a privilege. And I’m conscious of that honour and that privilege,” Johnson said.” - Opposition SDP wins UK elections, Al Jazeera (2005)

Johnson Cabinet 2005-

• Prime Minister - Alan Johnson (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Deputy Prime Minister - Alan Milburn (SDP - Social Democrat )
• Chancellor of the Exchequer - Simon Hughes (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Foreign Secretary - Tony Blair (SDP - Centrist)
• Justice Secretary - David Miliband (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Defence Secretary - General Mike Jackson (Military)
• Home Secretary - Peter Tatchell (SDP - Soft Left)
• Development Secretary - Jack Straw (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Education Secretary - Glenda Jackson (SDP - Soft Left)
• Industry, Tourism and Trade Secretary - Chris Huhne (SDP - Centrist)
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Secretary - John Prescott (SDP - Soft Left)
• Public Administrations Secretary - Charlie Falconer (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Culture Secretary - Rosie Boycott (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Health Secretary - Peter Hain (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Environment Secretary - Valerie Amos (SDP - Social Democrat)
• Housing Secretary - Polly Toynbee (SDP - Social Democrat)

Journalist Alan Milburn, famous for his investigations into corruption, was named Deputy Prime Minister

Johnson’s Cabinet represented the diverse range of faces within the SDP. From union bosses like John Prescott to journalists like Alan Milburn and lawyers like Tony Blair. One of the most noticeable appointments was Peter Tatchell. Tatchell had been one of the leading campaigners for LGBT rights under the homophobic laws of the Junta. He had been arrested in the mid 80s and deported to Australia. Now with an official pardon and a Parliamentary seat, Tatchell now headed the same department that had imprisoned him. Alongside Tatchell, another notable name, Valerie Amos became the first black woman Cabinet Minister.

Whilst this was politically a Cabinet of mostly moderates, culturally it was a shock, especially for a country used to seeing white men in crisp military uniforms around the Cabinet table. Johnson, eager to be accepted into the EU and the liberal world order, spoke of his pride in a Cabinet that looked like Britain. Among them all, sitting quietly with a stiff upper lip and straight back was Mike Jackson, the army’s man in Downing Street.

“The former Prime Minister under Peter Hill-Norton says he is "at the service" of his successor Alan Johnson. What sort of man is Sir Mike? Reportedly nicknamed Darth Vader and The Prince of Darkness by his men, Jackson commanded an instant respect among his troops. Renowned for his ferocious pursuit of perfection on military exercises and dubbed "Macho Jacko", he was seen as a hard but fair commander. Sir Mike, now 62, began his army career learning Russian in the Intelligence Corps at the height of the Cold War. Born into a military family, he joined the Army at the age of 19 before graduating from Birmingham University in 1967. Jackson was based in Malaysia during the Mountbatten coup and thus missed lots of the action. Working his way up the Junta's ranks including spending time in Northern Ireland, he was made Minister of Defence between 1994 before being promoted to Prime Minister in 1997. Generally seen as a reformist Jackson was named Hill-Norton's successor and played a large part in the transition to democracy. Now Jackson is the last soldier round the Cabinet.” - Profile: Defence Secretary Sir Mike Jackson, BBC News (2005)

The loyalty of the military to the new administration could not be guaranteed

 

[Historyman 14]

This seems very interesting indeed.

I know this is focus on the Post-Junta UK, but I be most interesting to see everything else.

Like...how was the Hong Kong handover handle by Hill-Norton?

Or will any British exiles from Canada, Australia and New Zealand start to come back given the SDP victory?

 

[dcharles]

Johnson Cabinet 2005-

• Prime Minister - Alan Johnson (SDP)
• Deputy Prime Minister - Alan Milburn (SDP)
• Chancellor of the Exchequer - Simon Hughes (SDP)
• Foreign Secretary - Tony Blair (SDP)
• Justice Secretary - David Miliband (SDP)
• Defence Secretary - General Mike Jackson (Military)
• Home Secretary - Peter Tatchell (SDP)
• Development Secretary - Jack Straw (SDP)
• Education Secretary - Glenda Jackson (SDP)
• Industry, Tourism and Trade Secretary - Chris Huhne (SDP)
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Secretary - John Prescott (SDP)
• Public Administrations Secretary - Charlie Falconer (SDP)
• Culture Secretary - Rosie Boycott (SDP)
• Health Secretary - Peter Hain (SDP)
• Environment Secretary - Valerie Amos (SDP)
• Housing Secretary - Polly Toynbee (SDP)

Would it be typical that a party that falls short of a majority--by 11, I think you said--wouldn't include their coalition partner in the cabinet?

 

[diestormlie]

Would it be typical that a party that falls short of a majority--by 11, I think you said--wouldn't include their coalition partner in the cabinet?

This isn't a Coalition Government (a la Cameron-Clegg in 2010,) where the two parties formally enter into a Coalition, with a unified Parliamentary Agenda etc.

This is a looser 'Confidence and Supply' agreement, (A la May-DUP), wherein the smaller party agrees to vote with the Government on Budgets and all other Bills which would (conventionally) compel the Government to resign should they be lost.

 

[diestormlie]

Looking forward to reading more of this TL!

Edit: I'd also be interested in hearing about the structure/makeup of the Armed Forces ITTL; National Service seems to have been phased out by the time of the Coup; was it re-instated? How internally cohesive are they? What are Officer-Squaddie relations like etc.

 

[powerab]

This seems very interesting indeed.

I know this is focus on the Post-Junta UK, but I be most interesting to see everything else.

Like...how was the Hong Kong handover handle by Hill-Norton?

Or will any British exiles from Canada, Australia and New Zealand start to come back given the SDP victory?

Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Hong Kong was handled badly. As Britain in this TL doesn't have the backing of the international community and Hong Kong is already effectively under a dictatorship anyway. When the lease ended, China demanded Hong Kong back and there was little Britain could do to stop them. Hong Kong is much more integrated with mainland China than in OTL. This led to a wave of Hong Kongers moving to Britain so in this TL the Chinese population of the UK is over 500,000.

Several exiles have returned to the UK, most notably 93-year-old Jim Callaghan who chaired the British Freedom Campaign until 1996, he serves as the honourary President of the SDP.

 

[powerab]

Would it be typical that a party that falls short of a majority--by 11, I think you said--wouldn't include their coalition partner in the cabinet?

This isn't a Coalition Government (a la Cameron-Clegg in 2010,) where the two parties formally enter into a Coalition, with a unified Parliamentary Agenda etc.

This is a looser 'Confidence and Supply' agreement, (A la May-DUP), wherein the smaller party agrees to vote with the Government on Budgets and all other Bills which would (conventionally) compel the Government to resign should they be lost.

As diestromile said, the SDP and SA have a confidence and supply arrangement, meaning the SA don't get seats in the Cabinet.

 

[EvilJam]

How economically backward is the UK? Obviously it will be worse than OTL, but the industrialized and developed nature of the country means that it is definitely unlikely to be anywhere near the levels of post-Soviet Russia/Eastern Europe.

 

[Kven]

I just realized how much culture would be different in this world. Things like Queen probably didn't even exist.

 

[powerab]

How economically backward is the UK? Obviously it will be worse than OTL, but the industrialized and developed nature of the country means that it is definitely unlikely to be anywhere near the levels of post-Soviet Russia/Eastern Europe.

Yes so the British economy is weaker than OTL but still ranks comparatively high compared to the rest of the world, it is 18th on the Human Development Index (compared to 12th OTL) and it is the 8th largest economy (compared to 5th OTL). If I had to make a comparison in terms of economy it would probably be closest to OTL 2005 Italy.

 

[SandroPertini98]

As Mountbatten is not assassinated in 1979, has his plan to marry Prince Charles with Amanda Knatchbull succeeded? Charles is often seen (famously or infamously, depending to who you ask) as more outspoken then the Queen, he’s active on environmental and privacy issues and in the Sixties he tried to become a Labour member. Without the Diana affair he could be more popular. Surely he could not be too much anti-Junta as his mother nominated it and I’m pretty sure they would put him under surveillance and make some veiled blackmail with Charles’s relationship with Camilla proves. But he could be nevertheless a more civil-society face of the Monarchy.

Yes so the British economy is weaker than OTL but still ranks comparatively high compared to the rest of the world, it is 18th on the Human Development Index (compared to 12th OTL) and it is the 8th largest economy (compared to 5th OTL). If I had to make a comparison in terms of economy it would probably be closest to OTL 2005 Italy.

Were there any discussions to replace UK with some other country at economic meeting like G7? They excluded Russia due nationalism and authoritarian issues, so I’m assuming they made the same with Great Britain when this type of summit is created in Seventies but maybe some other state was invited instead Britain (Australia? Spain in the Eighties? South Korea?).

 

[Diverge]

As Mountbatten is not assassinated in 1979, has his plan to marry Prince Charles with Amanda Knatchbull succeeded? Charles is often seen (famously or infamously, depending to who you ask) as more outspoken then the Queen, he’s active on environmental and privacy issues and in the Sixties he tried to become a Labour member. Without the Diana affair he could be more popular. Surely he could not be too much anti-Junta as his mother nominated it and I’m pretty sure they would put him under surveillance and make some veiled blackmail with Charles’s relationship with Camilla proves. But he could be nevertheless a more civil-society face of the Monarchy.

Were there any discussions to replace UK with some other country at economic meeting like G7? They excluded Russia due nationalism and authoritarian issues, so I’m assuming they made the same with Great Britain when this type of summit is created in Seventies but maybe some other state was invited instead Britain (Australia? Spain in the Eighties? South Korea?).

I don't see why Russia would be problematic ITTL. They were only kicked out of G8 because of the fiasco over Ukraine, and assuming another liberal like Yeltsin gets in and bends Russia over for the West, they'd be more than happy to let them into the group - even a more Putinesque leader could probably get away with it if they were diplomatic and democratic enough.

 

[Knightmare]

Edit: I'd also be interested in hearing about the structure/makeup of the Armed Forces ITTL; National Service seems to have been phased out by the time of the Coup; was it re-instated? How internally cohesive are they? What are Officer-Squaddie relations like etc.

Hard to say. Dictatorships do trend towards massive conscript armies, possibly to teach people how to obey orders and such, but at the same time, you risk teaching potential rebels how to shoot and such, which can make things difficult.

Especially since they don't have many people to draft in the first place.

So the Coup's leaders could go either way.

 

[powerab]

As Mountbatten is not assassinated in 1979, has his plan to marry Prince Charles with Amanda Knatchbull succeeded? Charles is often seen (famously or infamously, depending to who you ask) as more outspoken then the Queen, he’s active on environmental and privacy issues and in the Sixties he tried to become a Labour member. Without the Diana affair he could be more popular. Surely he could not be too much anti-Junta as his mother nominated it and I’m pretty sure they would put him under surveillance and make some veiled blackmail with Charles’s relationship with Camilla proves. But he could be nevertheless a more civil-society face of the Monarchy.

Were there any discussions to replace UK with some other country at economic meeting like G7? They excluded Russia due nationalism and authoritarian issues, so I’m assuming they made the same with Great Britain when this type of summit is created in Seventies but maybe some other state was invited instead Britain (Australia? Spain in the Eighties? South Korea?).

From what I can tell the Palace was opposed to a marriage between Charles and Knatchbull due to her age and they feared Mountbatten would overshadow Charles. With Mountbatten acting as First Lord these worries are stronger than OTL. Furthermore, whilst the Royal Family supported the Junta they were eager to keep Mountbatten at an arms-length now he was a political figure. Charles relationships remain the same as OTL so Diana then Camilla

Britain was never invited to the G8 due to its issues, instead, Australia is the 8th member. However Johnson and George Bush have both spoken of bringing the UK into the Group.