Sunstone's pretty much bang on, his shows were published pre-Junta and weren't hugely subversive so mostly avoided censorship. As Britain's creative industry shrunk Andersom would move to the states for economic reasons and became a moderately successful producer across the pond.
"A Very British Transition" - A Post-Junta Britain TL
- Thread starter powerab
- Start date
Yes absolutely, football is a lot more politicised that OTL, especially in Scotland. This is especially prevalent in Glasgow football where Celtic took a much more anti-Junta line, leading to many of it's players being arrested or even joining the SNLA, compared to Rangers who were generally neutral to supportive of the Junta.
Chapter 40: Hope and Change
Bush's support for the dying Junta had not been forgotten
“Whatever the president’s virtues, they remain unappreciated in his own time. To say that Bush is unpopular only begins to capture the historic depths of his estrangement from the American and global public. He is the most disliked president in seven decades. Sixty-nine percent of Americans disapproved of his performance in office in a Gallup poll in April. And while Truman and Nixon at their worst had even fewer supporters no president has endured such a prolonged period of public rejection. Bush has not enjoyed the support of a majority of Americans since March 2005. He has through his entire second term without most of the public behind him. Bush has been so far down for so long that his aides long ago gave up any hope that the numbers would change while he is still in office.” - The Final Days, Peter Baker, New York Times (2008)
Few in the United Kingdom had shed a tear when George Bush stepped down as US President, fewer still had been all that upset when his Republican successor John McCain loss the US Presidential election, in fact they had all been rather pleased, Obama’s approval rating amongst the British people stood at 86%, compared to just 36% for Alan Johnson. Pictures of Obama dominated front pages and television news programs around the world. The Mirror newspaper published a photo of Obama and his wife Michelle above the headline: `The American Dream Comes to Power'. Johnson hoped to rekindle the Anglo-American alliance with Obama, George Bush made no secret of his disdain for the former postie and the Johnson administration hoped Obama would provide a clean slate, both men had led remarkable lives and secured historic politic victories, both men stood on a platform of optimism, hope and change, it seemed a match made in heaven.
Just three months after Obama’s inauguration Johnson was on a plane to Washington DC, if everything went to plan Obama’s shine would rub off on Johnson and appearing besides the most powerful man in the world would give his administration a much-needed boost. Johnson’s visit would be the first state visit of a British leader since the fall of the Junta, and the first elected leader to visit DC in over 40 years. The ongoing financial crisis, and a mass programme of international economic stimulus was obvious first on both men's minds, but the agenda for the meeting was long and complicated. The items on the agenda included Obama’s planned closing of Guantanamo Bay, and the extradition of British Guantanamo inmates, as well as a climate summit in Copenhagen scheduled for 2010.
Seven British citizens were held at Guantanamo
“Barack Obama said that the bond between the UK and the US was "special and strong" after his first meeting with Alan Johnson. The US president insisted that the UK was one of America's "closest allies" and he promised to work with Johnson at the G20 summit in Moscow next month. Obama also spoke about his British ancestry on his mother's side. Obama also said that he had a "terrific" relationship with the prime minister and that there was "a shared set of values and assumptions between us". Speaking to reporters in the White House, Obama said: "The special relationship between the US and Great Britain is one that is important to me." "It is sustained by a common language, a common culture, our legal system which is inherited from the English system and our system of government.” - Special relationship as strong as ever, Obama tells Johnson, Associated Press (2009)
Obama hoped to move away from Bush era foreign policy
The most difficult conversation came early on, in a discussion around Britain's further military withdrawal from around the world. Johnson informed Obama Britain would be withdrawing it’s over 1,000 troops from Kosovo. The Junta had dutifully followed the Clinton Administration into Kosovo back in 1998 but with Britain’s finances overstretched, and the military needed to maintain order at home and in Afghanistan, where British troops were taking record casualties from renewed insurgents, Johnson needed those troops back. Furthermore the British Government still refused to recognise Kosovo, worrying recognising the new state would galvanise separatists in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Secretary of State Susan Rice issued strong criticism by stating that the United States was "disappointed" by the decision. Alan Johnson told reporters "The mission has been completed and it is time to return home."
Apart from the icy conversation over Kosovo, Johnson’s trip went well, he received all the pomp and ceremony, visiting various DC landmarks. Johnson’s greatest victory was securing a speech to the joint sessions of Congress. In this speech Johnson exalted the virtues of optimism, directly comparing Obama overcoming racism to lead his country, and Johnson’s own work bringing down the Junta, and his humble background as an orphaned former postman. In his joint press conference with Obama, both men lavished praise on each other in an unprecedented display of unity. The various Junta Admirals had never been that close with any US President, most Presidents wanting the public to forget the dictatorship they propped up across the pond, maybe now the two men could build a personal friendship, maybe some kind of special relationship?
“Working together, there is no challenge to which we are not equal, no obstacle that we cannot overcome. In the depths of the Depression, when Franklin Roosevelt did battle with fear itself, it was by his optimism that he triumphed. You, the American people, at your core, remain every bit as optimistic as your Roosevelts, your Reagans and your Obamas. This is the faith in the future that has always been the story and promise of America. So at this defining moment in history let us renew our special relationship for our generation and our times. Let us restore prosperity and protect this planet and, with faith in the future, let us together build tomorrow today.” - Johnson’s Speech to the US Congress (2009)
Johnson's visit was broadly a success
The PM's visit is effectively a coup itself. National will struggle in the upcoming election.
Chapter 41: From Russia with Guns
The air was the one place the Ministry of Defence could operate without fear of the SNLA
“A helicopter that crashed last week north-west of Aberdeen was shot down, the Ministry of Defence said today. The helicopter crashed last Wednesday northwest of Aberdeen, killing all seven people on board. A dissident group linked to the SNLA claimed responsibility and aired a video on the internet. Military officials initially said they did not believe it was shot down by insurgents. Early evidence indicated that the helicopter went down as a result of mechanical failure. After further investigation the cause of the incident was confirmed to be hostile fire, Defence Secretary Charles Guthrie said in a statement. At least seven North Sea Oil helicopters have received hostile fire since January, mostly from small arms. Guthrie declined to comment on the dissident's weapons capabilities, citing security concerns.” - UK Ministry of Defence confirms SNLA dissidents shot down helicopter, Associated Press (2009)
As Johnson flew over the Atlantic another less glamorous flight was taking place, from a BP Oil Rig out in the North Sea, a helicopter was carrying seven people back to mainland Britain. Now the SNLA had always particularly hated British Petroleum and English drilling in the North Sea. For those radicals who remained in the SNLA dissident cells, a British run company stealing Scotland’s mineral wealth was an unforgivable insult. Most of the time these fighters camping out in the countryside had to watch powerlessly as these choppers shuttled imperialists to the rig and back. But tonight was different, tonight they had a missile launcher.
All seven passengers died, sporadic attacks by the SNLA were nothing new, the occasional shooting or bomb attack was common. But a surface to air missile attack was something else. The most pressing question was where did they get these launchers from, and did they have anymore? The Centre for National Intelligence (CNI) presented two main theories. Theory one, a fellow international rebel group like the FARC or IRA had provided the SNLA with a launcher. Theory two, another government had provided these weapons to the Scottish Separatists, the main suspects being the Libyans and the Russians. Russia was seen as the most likely culprit, the arms could have been a warning as Johnson flew into Moscow and Medvedev’s home, this would be an icy summit.
This left Johnson in a bit of a conundrum, the voters and pundits at home wanted retribution, a strong line against the Putin/Medvedev administration, however Obama, German Chancellor Merkel, and other western leaders urged Johnson to exercise restraint. With the global recession ongoing now was not the time to anger Medvedev and risk collapsing the summit. Of course both Obama and Merkel had their own agendas, both hoping to thaw relations between Russia and the west. After a stern talking to by his allies, Johnson agreed not to confront Medvedev publicly, only discussing Russia’s financing of British terror groups in one-to-one meetings behind closed doors.
Obama hoped for a detente with the Russians
“We have an instrument of coordination that is the G21 for the concerted mobilisation of resources to merge a common response to the crisis. The accession of global governance will be vital in the fight against extreme poverty and the effects of climate change. We should be aware that nothing is beyond our reach; that we should take nothing as destined. We are responsible for our present and for our future. Let us live up to the many and high expectations. Let us offer the world the security it needs, and demands of us. We are faced with a great challenge, but also with a great opportunity to resolve it. And to open up a new horizon of hope for humanity.” - Johnson’s Speech to the G21 (2009)
With the British delegation on it’s best behaviour, the summit continued on as normal, well relatively normal considering the circumstances. The 21 nations agreed an 800 billion euro package in international investment, to be allocated via multinational institutions such as the World Bank and IMF. The IMF in particular received a huge raft of funding, essentially tripling the capital it had to hand. The nations also agreed to greater international regulation for the finance and banking sector, with strict controls on banker’s bonuses and stricter controls on the operation of hedge funds. Finally the assembled nations agreed 80 billion euros in funding to help the world’s poorest nations weather the financial storm.
As had become standard for G20 meetings, protests raged outside
In a quiet backroom, Johnson challenged the Russian leader on how a few dissidents running around the Scottish highlands were able to get their hands on a missile launcher, or how far-right paramilitaries like Civil Assistance kept finding crates of military grade weapons. Mr Medvedev of course had no idea, and what could Johnson do to stop him anyway? His good friend President Obama had thrown him under the bus for a peaceful summit and an easy life, without the backing of other western leaders there was little Johnson could do to hold the Putin/Medvedev administration to account. He got the usual democratic platitudes of “further counter-terrorism cooperation” and a “full independent investigation” by the Kremlin, but very little in terms of concrete actions.
Despite his difficulties with Medvedev, the financial side of the summit had been a success. Getting such a diverse group of nations to agree to a radical package was a victory in itself, but at home Johnson was being hit hard by the press and parliamentary opposition. Leaks revealed to the public that Johnson had effectively been ordered into silence by the US President. National was outraged that Johnson had refused to challenge Medvedev publicly on Russian weapon exports, accusing the Prime Minister of putting “American and German interests ahead of the safety of the British people”. The Alternative was also outraged, they had hoped the days of Britain being ordered around by a US President had died with the Junta, but Britain remained a pawn in Obama’s global negotiations. Whether Johnson had done the right thing by putting domestic politics aside to secure a global recovery would be down to the historians of the world, but now he had to go home and face the music.
“The G21 came through, the leaders were serious, consequent, and - yes - even efficient in their work. Standouts included Alan Johnson of Britain, Kevin Rudd of Australia, Felipe Calderon of Mexico, Hu Jintao of China, and Lula da Silva of Brazil. The poorest countries, by and large, were not in the room. As usual, their plight came far behind the immediate concerns of the high-income and middle-income countries. Still, through the assiduous efforts of Secretary General Shashi Tharoor there was a clear commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. This included a strong reiteration of commitments on development and stronger social safety nets.” - The G21 Summit: Accomplishments beyond expectation, Centre for Economic Policy Research (2009)
Johnson had improved his standing abroad, but upset the electorate at home
Wikibox: Scottish National Liberation Army
The Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA), is an armed Scottish nationalist and separatist organisation. The group was founded in 1969 as a paramilitary group engaged in a violent campaign of bombing, assassinations and kidnappings in Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom. Its goal was gaining independence for the Scottish Nation. The SNLA was the main group within the Scottish liberation movement and was the most important Scottish participant in the Scottish conflict.
Since 1968, it has killed 1,169 people (including 479 civilians) and injured thousands more. The SNLA is classified as a terrorist group by the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and the European Union. This convention was followed by a plurality of domestic and international media, which also referred to the group as terrorists. There are more than 360 imprisoned former members of the group.
The SNLA leadership declared a ceasefire in 2004 under the Cardiff Accords. Despite this, a significant minority continued a dissident armed struggle campaign. The SNLA's motto is “Scotland Forever''. It’s symbol is a two pronged fork with one prong representing politics and the other representing armed struggle.
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Poor Johnson, can't seem to have a break. It's almost comical that Johnson has to deal with crisis after crisis.
Well "Alan walked into Downing Street and everything was fine" would make for a very boring TL 😁
dcharles
Banned
Feels so strange to be giving a like to a violent paramilitary group.
But hey, that's alternate history for you.
It's a homage to the Fork of Clan Cunningham. The story goes that the Cunninghams were a normal peasant family who sheltered the King of Scotland under hay in their barn. The King then raised the Cunningham Clan to Thanedom and took the hay fork as their symbol. The Cunningham's have fought for Scotland in every conflict from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 12th Century all the way to the 18th century and Jacobite risings.
They became a symbol of Scottish resistance, thus the SNLA adapted the fork as their symbol.
A Very British Tradition 2: Alan Has a Very Nice Day
I think all you’re missing is a major natural disaster and Alan will have experienced the whole crisis bingo card
Chapter 42: Cleggmania
Clegg had been considered a future National leader
“Leaked papers show Nick Clegg, the Shadow Chancellor, illegally claimed over his parliamentary second home allowance and funnelled it to friends in the development industry. Mr Clegg submitted regular claims for gardening, furniture and decorating at his constituency home in South Yorkshire and Parliamentary home in Islington. Leaked records show that Mr Clegg claimed well over the allowance limit. Over the following months, he fitted the house with a 3,000 euro kitchen, and had 6,000 euros worth of decorating done. He claimed for carpets, a laminate floor, tiling and sanding, curtains, blinds, curtain rails and repairs to a garage door. Most of this money went towards development companies owned by his friend and National donor David Rowland.” - How Nick Clegg broke legal parliamentary expenses limit, Rosa Prince, The Telegraph (2009)
It was good to be a National politician, especially if you were horrendously corrupt. Every week you would see an SDP or Alternative local politician marched away by the police, safe in the knowledge your friends in the Security Services would keep you safe. Shadow Chancellor Nick Clegg had thought the same, he had funnelled public money to wealthy friends in Britain’s property development industry, including using taxpayer money to finance renovations to his Islington home, no expense was spared with tens of thousands of euros going to fixing up the Shadow Chancellor’s house, including over a thousand euros on a rose garden. Nick Clegg’s acts weren’t particularly unusual, especially for a transition politician, with a lack of civil society, corruption was rampant around Britain’s MPs and local legislators. Since Clegg was in National he could build all the rose gardens he wanted without fear of investigation.
Unfortunately for Clegg he decided to do something very foolish, unlike some hardliners in his party, Clegg was weary of the Security Services, he remembered being tailed by agents when he served as Britain’s Ambassador to the EU, when Whitehall suspected he was planning to defect. Now as National’s leading liberal reformer, Clegg had committed the mother of all sins, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the country’s leading pro-National broadsheet, Clegg said he supported the SDP’s reforms in breaking up the Security Services and even mused further cuts to COCTI’s inflated budget. Of course this couldn’t stand, whether Clegg thought he was untouchable due to his party membership, or senior political position, the hammer of COCTI came all the same. Stories of Clegg’s “business partnerships” found their way into Britain’s leading papers and Clegg was marched out of his pretty Islington house in his dressing gown at 3am.
A message had been sent. Unfortunately for Tim Collins, it was budget day, and National no-longer had a Shadow Chancellor. Collins’ two most obvious successors to Clegg were Foreign Secretary David Davis or Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, however both ruled each other out. Davis was a former SAS man and Eurosceptic hardliner; he would never have been an acceptable follow-up to the liberal Clegg. Clarke on the other hand was a euro-federalist alcoholic, his appointment would enrage the party’s perpetually red faced purists. The unfortunate fact of Collin’s political existence was that half his Shadow Cabinet hated the other half, almost any appointment would cause a resignation which would dominate the airways. With the election two months away, Collins needed a safe bet, someone respected by all wings of his party.
The new Shadow Chancellor would arguably be the second most powerful politician in National
“Davis earned his spurs as a toughie when he walked the battlements of Saltwood castle, home of the Junta-era diarist Alan Clark. Davis recalls when Clark took a party of officials to the top of his castle to inspect the "black run", a battlement with a sheer drop on one side. "I sort of walked it," he says. "I didn't think about it. As I got back, Alan said: 'My God, nobody else has done it that way before. You never took your hands out of your pockets.' I wasn't thinking about it. I suppose some people took their hands out of their pockets and held on to the side. It didn't occur to me. Alan was a complete sucker for acts of bravado." Despite his uncharacteristic modesty, Davis also relishes acts of bravado. For the moment, though, he is experiencing a rare calmness as he reflects that he may be changing the political weather. " - David Davis: Maverick or Hardliner?, Nicholas Watt, The Guardian (2009)
Chancellor Simon Hughes delivered the Johnson Government’s budget with little flare, keeping a respectful tone due to the gravity of the situation. It included an extra 300 million euro investment in Britain’s poorer outer regions as part of a package of economic stimulus to keep Britain's economy back on track. These regions conveniently included Alternative strongholds in Merseyside and Greater Manchester, just in case the socialists forgot which side they were on. Hughes pledged no cuts to social spending and no freeze on public sector pay. It was a naked election budget, full of pork-barrel policies to keep the British voters onside, but with National’s Shadow Chancellor in Islington Police station, who would lead the charge against it?
Chief Whip William Hague presented Collins with a very brief shortlist
From the National benches, former Chief Whip William Hague rose, as the party’s new Shadow Chancellor. Hague, long known for his oratory skills and parliamentary knowledge, gave a strong response, much to the delight of the conservative press. Hague lambasted Hughes’ budget with wit and humour, maligning the SDP attempts to “spend their way out a hole”. Whilst Hague received applause from the National benches and headlines in the papers, Deputy Leader Theresa May glowered next to him, National’s crown was suddenly in play. Hague’s strong performance had minimised the damage to National by Clegg’s arrest, and arguably saved the party’s election campaign.
A day that should’ve been an overwhelming victory for the SDP ended in a stalemate. The budget passed to little surprises with the Alternative’s MPs honouring their pact and falling in line. The 2009 budget was the last major piece of legislation before purdah, the official election period in the United Kingdom. Johnson’s SDP administration, with a little help from the Socialist Alternative, had made it a full four year term, a minor miracle in and of itself. He hadn’t been shot, couped or imprisoned, which means he was doing a lot better than any other social democratic politician in the last forty years. The Social Democrats had won the peace, now could they hold it?
“ComRes have a new poll in the Independent tomorrow. The top-line figures, with changes from the last ComRes poll, are NAT 42%(-1), SDP 39%(-2), SA 5%(+1). The SDP is lower than in other recent polls, but so is National, so we’re seeing roughly the same gap between National and the SDP as we have in all other recent polls. Support for “others” is at a high 14%, though ComRes do often weigh people who voted “other” in 2005 to a higher level than the other phone pollsters. For the record the breakdown for the others here is REFORM 4% (+1), SNP (3%) (-), RISE 2 (+1) and PLAID 1% (-) and all others on 4%. While I’m here, this morning’s Telegraph had some more details held over from last week’s YouGov poll, dealing with the issue of MP’s corruption. Public opinion towards them was hostile. 68% agreed that "most politicians are corrupt". - UK Polling Report (2009)
Support for third parties was growing
"I looked forward in time, I saw 14,000,605 alternate history timelines."
"In how many of those did Nick Clegg become Prime Minister?"
"One."
"In how many of those did Nick Clegg become Prime Minister?"
"One."
2009 Election Special, Part 1
Brussels liked Johnson, but were suspicious of his potential coalition partners
“Pro-EU reformists are nosing ahead in the latest polls before Britain's election. This is a pivotal event that could consolidate Britain's EU entry, or aggravate the risk of renewed conflict in the heart of modern Europe. The pro-EU SDP scored 40% in a poll on Thursday, with National on 41% percent and the radical Socialist Alternative party of former paramilitaries on 6%. The EU's preferred scenario would see Johnson or Collins team up with either each other, or the smaller pro-EU Reform Party. The EU wants a clear majority in London's 497-seat parliament to steer the country toward a negotiated settlement on Scotland. Its worst case scenario could see the Social Democrats unite with radical leftists in the Alternative and RISE parties. This could embolden the Scottish provinces into a unilateral grab at independence.” - Pro-EU party trails polls in knife-edge British election, Andrew Rettman, EU Observer
Looking at the board, the 2009 election was all to play for, the financial crisis and various corruption scandals had given National an opportunity to breakthrough, but the party remained distrusted by many voters, especially in the cities. The Social Democrats had taken a battering but were still polling in the late 30s, Johnson remained a popular figure and the people’s preferred Prime Minister. Both parties had declined in the polls over the last few months and voters sought an alternative. One would think *the Alternative* would benefit from this situation, but their support for the SDP government and its budget had prevented them from capitalising on Johnson’s economic woes. North of the border, RISE’s polling had collapsed since the arrest of Tommy Sheridan so they were unlikely to pose a threat to the establishment.
There was a void, but no one seemed able to fill it. Johnson launched into an energetic campaign, banking on his own personal popularity and an optimistic campaign. The party’s slogan “Reasons to Believe” were plastered on posters with Johnson’s face up and down the country. Johnson also tacked to the centre in his campaign, hoping to quash the threat presented by the new Reform Party. Johnson pledged a stronger line against SNLA dissidents and an end to “separatist concessions” in the wake of Tommy Sheridan’s conviction. SDP strategists new Johnson’s perceived softness on Scottish separatism were unpopular with the nation’s unionist community, and the voters of small-town middle England, both of which he would need to win to hold onto Downing Street.
National took an economically conservative line in their campaign, centring their campaign on the financial crisis and its impact on working people. Collins promised to curtail the Social Democrats reckless spending, whilst ring-fencing essential services such as the military and the police. Collins did come under pressure for the ordering of his party lists - unlike the SDP or Alternative (where party members voted for their party lists at conference), National’s General Committee assigned party lists from the top-down, giving the leadership a great deal of control. The party’s moderate wing was outraged when the lists revealed several leading reformists had been moved down the list in favour of new politicians aligned to Collins.
The Colonel valued loyalty above all else
In South Yorkshire, Collin’s press director Jeremy Clarkson was placed at the top of the National list, above two incumbent MPs. Shadow Chancellor Nick Clegg, a National MP for South Yorkshire, was unceremoniously booted off the list entirely, despite the fact he was awaiting trial. Several Shadow Ministers weren’t placed at the top of their list in an unprecedented display, most notably Justice Secretary Ken Clarke was demoted to third on the Derbyshire list. Critics accused Collins of acting like a despot and using the list system to remove internal rivals. Some saw this as a sign Collins wasn’t confident in winning the election and hoped to secure the party for his chosen successor.
“The National selection process in 2009 rested upon a strong commitment to the party and Tim Collins personally. The process was also marked by an informality that tended to benefit privileged and well-connected men. A pamphlet published in 2010 by the National Reform Group argued that “A tap on the shoulder was all that was necessary to put someone on the list”. The party had in fact used a formal process to approve candidates. This process – which was based on Sandhurst’s army officer training procedure, focused on assessing candidates debating skills at the expense of other attributes. This prejudiced the process in favour of public school educated men. One study concluded that “institutionalised sexism” during selections was a particular problem. With National's poor polling among women voters in particular, calls for far-reaching reform grew louder.” - Candidate selection in the National Party, Institute for Government (2011)
Deputy Leader Theresa May had founded the National Women's Forum to promote women members of the party
Up in Scotland the SNP was working ruthlessly to consolidate the separatist vote. After Sheridan’s arrest RISE had been thrown into chaos and it’s polling had tanked. The new leader Alex Neil lacked either Sheridan’s charisma or the political loyalty Sheridan had inspired in radical separatists. The party was losing its social democratic voters to the SNP and it’s more radical votes to the Worker’s Party of Scotland, a splinter group set up by hardcore Sheridan allies. Swinney hoped to establish the SNP as the main party of Scottish nationalism, arguing if all of Scotland’s nationalists gave him their backing, they could send a strong message to Westminster and secure independence for the Scottish nation.
The defining event of the election came when Johnson made a campaign stop in his home region of Humberside, meeting with campaign staff at the party’s regional headquarters. Johnson stepped outside for a conversation with his Chief of Staff, David Lammy. Whilst he had been enjoying a mars bar, a bomb went off in the building. Being outside the building, Johnson was thrown off his feet and broke his arm, but wasn’t badly injured. Eight campaign staff were killed and dozens were injured. Civil Assistance claimed responsibility. For just a few moments Britain had felt like a normal democracy, having a normal election with normal politics. That illusion had been shattered.
Nonetheless the attack had boosted the SDP’s standing in the polls, and quashed any chance of the far-right new Nationalist Party making its way into Parliament. The City of Hull, where the attack took place, rallied around the victims, and all major parties announced a suspension of campaigning for 48 hours following the attack. Johnson, Collins and Meacher made a joint statement outside Hull City Hall, promising a kinder, gentler campaign, this included a commitment to end negative campaign adverts and further protections for campaign staff. Whilst the Hull bombing had been the most egregious form of violence, it wasn’t a lone act, violence had become a fact of life during the election, canvassers had dogs set on them, and different party volunteers had gotten into fights if they door-knocked the same streets. All three leaders disavowed political violence and their volunteers to do better, but it became increasingly clear no one was really in control.
“NNP Leader Godfrey Bloom, has been accused of advocating violence. Mr Bloom said that those who had no other way of expressing a legitimate grievance had a right to "hurt people, maim and blow things up". Mr Bloom is currently running as an NNP candidate for Humberside and the European Parliament. He added that people faced with a "tyrannical government" had a right, if not a duty, to "take up arms”. Mr Bloom made the comments in an interview, recorded by Diana Johnson, who is standing as an SDP candidate for the same seat. The NNP leader last night accused Ms Johnson of using "clipped and manipulated extracts" of the interview. In the footage, Mr Bloom said: "When people have a genuine grievance, if the state doesn't care, then what choice are people left but to do something which is outside the parliamentary system.” - NNP leader Godfrey Bloom accused of advocating violence, Tom Whitehead, The Guardian (2009)
After a quiet few months Civil Assistance had shot back into headlines
2009 Election - Reader's Poll!
Hello friends colleagues and lovers.
I have decided to do a readers poll on who they would vote for if they lived in universe. This will have no impact on the final result and is purely for my own amusement.
You can find the poll here. I will reveal the results before election day
That's an interesting question - do you mean "WI someone identical to me, with my exact political beliefs", or "WI I grew up in that TL"? Because those are probably two different answers.
To be honest I didn't think that far ahead, I guess either works