AHC: Ted Heath survives 1974

Okay, here is an AH Challenge, get Ted Heath to win (whether by majority, minority or coalition government) the 1974 general election and examine the events following, such as what happens to Margaret Thatcher.

Also plan out events which could make him win in the first place such as what if Wilson resigned in 1970 and someone un-electable takes over.
 
Please elaborate.

He means that given how close Feb 74 was he could have hung on with some minor PODs. However, any government that governs for the remainder of the 70s, especially one with a knife-edge majority/Liberal pact and, on top of that, is the natural party for Unions to declare war on, isn't going to make it to 1980.
 
Heath..

I've seen a couple of pieces from Conservative-minded people who think that had Heath gone to the country after Christmas with a more focussed campaign he could have won.

The "Who Governs Britain" question didn't work as the country was plunged into increasing chaos with the three-day week and power cuts. The clear inference was that the answer to the question wasn't Heath but the TUC.

As others have said, IF Heath and the Conservatives hang on in 1974 (and it's not likely they would have won a big majority - perhaps under 20) they would still have had to face down the miners and other unions as well as deal with the effects of the oil shock and the huge problems of Northern Ireland.

Would Wilson have retired had he lost in 1974? It seems likely but who would have succeeded - Callaghan still seems more likely than Jenkins so a 1976 or 1977 election looks probable with Labour winning.

Heath would by then have been leader for twelve years and it's possible he would have stood down voluntarily but a challenge from Whitelaw looks an option - Whitelaw leads but loses in 1981 or 1982 to Callaghan who duly hands over to Denis Healey who leads Labour and the country through the 1980s.
 
I've seen a couple of pieces from Conservative-minded people who think that had Heath gone to the country after Christmas with a more focussed campaign he could have won.

The "Who Governs Britain" question didn't work as the country was plunged into increasing chaos with the three-day week and power cuts. The clear inference was that the answer to the question wasn't Heath but the TUC.

As others have said, IF Heath and the Conservatives hang on in 1974 (and it's not likely they would have won a big majority - perhaps under 20) they would still have had to face down the miners and other unions as well as deal with the effects of the oil shock and the huge problems of Northern Ireland.

Would Wilson have retired had he lost in 1974? It seems likely but who would have succeeded - Callaghan still seems more likely than Jenkins so a 1976 or 1977 election looks probable with Labour winning.

Heath would by then have been leader for twelve years and it's possible he would have stood down voluntarily but a challenge from Whitelaw looks an option - Whitelaw leads but loses in 1981 or 1982 to Callaghan who duly hands over to Denis Healey who leads Labour and the country through the 1980s.


But lets say that Wilson resigned having lost in 1970 what then?
 
I've seen a couple of pieces from Conservative-minded people who think that had Heath gone to the country after Christmas with a more focussed campaign he could have won.

The "Who Governs Britain" question didn't work as the country was plunged into increasing chaos with the three-day week and power cuts. The clear inference was that the answer to the question wasn't Heath but the TUC.

As others have said, IF Heath and the Conservatives hang on in 1974 (and it's not likely they would have won a big majority - perhaps under 20) they would still have had to face down the miners and other unions as well as deal with the effects of the oil shock and the huge problems of Northern Ireland.

Would Wilson have retired had he lost in 1974? It seems likely but who would have succeeded - Callaghan still seems more likely than Jenkins so a 1976 or 1977 election looks probable with Labour winning.

Heath would by then have been leader for twelve years and it's possible he would have stood down voluntarily but a challenge from Whitelaw looks an option - Whitelaw leads but loses in 1981 or 1982 to Callaghan who duly hands over to Denis Healey who leads Labour and the country through the 1980s.

Well, he did win in terms of votes, so more people in Britain wanted Heath than Wilson, i think thats an interesting point.
 
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