AHC: Britain a Military Dictatorship by 2012

As Brits we tend to be rather dismissive of the idea that we could ever be ruled, even benignly by a military dictatorship, because, well, it's just not British.

So I got to thinking, what events of the 20th Century, if spun differently, could cause Britain to be ruled by a military dictatorship.
Doesn't have to be a right-wing dictatorship, infact I'd be more impressed if it were a left or centerist dictatorship, only thing, it would have to survive, even if on it's last legs, until 2012.

Could somewthing like an attempted Bolshevik or Communist revolution either in the mid to late 20's or the 1970's cause it, or soemthing more mundane?
 

Orry

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Monthly Donor
Cold war goes hot and Heinliens 'Starship troopers' is a prophetic piece of writing......
 

AndyC

Donor
Apparently, during the 74-79 Wilson/Callaghan Government, there was a nascent movement in the Armed Forces towards a coup.

It was based on the very low pay and conditions at the time (Senior NCOs were (I am told by people who were there) on low enough salaries that they required benefits). This may have been used as an excuse by politically-motivated senior officers to increase clandestine support. It was referred to as something like "UK '76" or "UK '75".

It was seen off when a large double-digit-percentage pay rise badly dented the enthusiasm among the non-politically motivated.

All of this information is third hand, told to me by a retirng Warrant Officer in 2000, who left it very vague as to whether he had been involved in any way.
 

Thande

Donor
Apparently, during the 74-79 Wilson/Callaghan Government, there was a nascent movement in the Armed Forces towards a coup.

It was based on the very low pay and conditions at the time (Senior NCOs were (I am told by people who were there) on low enough salaries that they required benefits). This may have been used as an excuse by politically-motivated senior officers to increase clandestine support. It was referred to as something like "UK '76" or "UK '75".

It was seen off when a large double-digit-percentage pay rise badly dented the enthusiasm among the non-politically motivated.

All of this information is third hand, told to me by a retirng Warrant Officer in 2000, who left it very vague as to whether he had been involved in any way.

If that coup was real and it did happen, I still don't think it would satisfy the OP. I tend to think a British military coup would be more like the ones we see in Africa today, where the military always immediately reassures everyone that they only intend to throw out the current lot of politicians (and ensure they themselves get a more privileged position in the future, of course) and soon hold new elections within a year or two...possibly elections under their 'guidance', but my point is I don't see Britain being a titular military dictatorship for very long.
 
I think someone started off a TL that had Mountbatten leading a coup in the aftermath of the February '74 election. From what I remember of it it was a pretty spectacular failure.
 

AndyC

Donor
If that coup was real and it did happen, I still don't think it would satisfy the OP. I tend to think a British military coup would be more like the ones we see in Africa today, where the military always immediately reassures everyone that they only intend to throw out the current lot of politicians (and ensure they themselves get a more privileged position in the future, of course) and soon hold new elections within a year or two...possibly elections under their 'guidance', but my point is I don't see Britain being a titular military dictatorship for very long.

Very true - but it would give a position where a TL could be constructed on a longer-term military dictatorship. Such as a serious terrorist incident occurring just as they were gearing up to hand back over to the civilians. Or a charismatic military leader deciding to retain power. The playing ground would be more fertile for the outcome of the challenge, at any rate.
 
Could somewthing like an attempted Bolshevik or Communist revolution either in the mid to late 20's or the 1970's cause it, or soemthing more mundane?

Possibly if we see the General Strike turn into something like The People's Flag or FabR towards the end, with a socialist/communist Britain, and later on they get overthrown by the military, we could have something like a military dictatorship.
 
It's just not British though....


I really doubt you could make it happen without some serious bending of history...and I mean bending like WWIII broke out in 1946 and everything went 1984 style...
 
Maybe whatever party in power could repeatedly fuck up for like a decade straight on huge issues that pisses everyone off, and then the Royalty start interfering and refusing to give assent to bills everyone hates.

So everyone loves the Royalty, gathers some steam, Parliament is chucked out and Royalty rules (Monarchy counts as a dictatorship as far as I'm concerned), then perhaps the Royalty bring in another Parliament after allowing the people to vote, who then again, immediately fuck up and piss everyone off.

It's the only real scenario I can think of, and even then...
 
This is the problem for me, I can't help but think that a lasting Military Dictator ship in Britain would be ASB.

I wasn't aware of GB75, I think that could have some legs if you then also had the Irish Republicans make a real push in Ulster thinking the British Military would be too busy. If on top of that you had the Argentines invade the Falklands a few years early and a warming up in the cold war, possibly.

Having a thought now.
Thank you, although if anyone else has any ideas, please let me know.
 
Borderline ABB IMVHO.
The 'Wilson Plot' existed largley in the mind of Peter Wright and at most may have consisted of as many as 6 dissafected members, or as few 1-2. GB 75 and the other 'action groups' that existed in the '70s were not credible as a source of potential military dictators.

The main obstacle any TL has to get over is how to get back the basically apolitical nature of the British Armed Forces. I'd certainly call them a conservative organisation, but not a Conservative organisation.
 

Orry

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Monthly Donor
We had one in the 17th Century....

The protectorate under Cromwell
 
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