Blair joins the Tories

[Grey Wolf]

If instead of joining the Labour Party and turning it into a centre-right political party, Tony Blair had followed his original instincts and joined the Conservative Party...

How about the 1994 Brown-Gould agreement
The 1997 Gordon Brown Prime Ministership
The 2001 Brown re-election, trouncing William Hague
and Tony Blair takes over as leader of the Conservative Party and leads them to victory against Brown in 2005?

Grey Wolf

 

[Andy]

Much as I respect Tony Blair as a strong and principled leader, being right of centre myself, I dont recognise that Labour as a party has become centre-right, it intrigues me. Why do you believe this to be the case? And if it is, that would mean that Britain lacks a viable left-of-centre party, doesn't it....?

 

[Grey Wolf]

Much as I respect Tony Blair as a strong and principled leader, being right of centre myself, I dont recognise that Labour as a party has become centre-right, it intrigues me. Why do you believe this to be the case? And if it is, that would mean that Britain lacks a viable left-of-centre party, doesn't it....?

Are you the Andy who supports the ...um agenda at POW ?

The reason is pretty simple because the Labour Party adopted all the Tory policies from their last governments. Every time now I hear a Labour Minister on the radio I just think 'fucking Tory'

Grey Wolf

 

[Andy]

Are you the Andy who supports the ...um agenda at POW ?

probably, but I have no idea what you are talking about

Every time I hear a labour minister, I think 'fucking tory'

Nice language there, my friend. Basically, I think that if Tony Blair had joined the tories, they would have a better leader than they have in Mike Howard.

 

[Grey Wolf]

Nice language there, my friend. Basically, I think that if Tony Blair had joined the tories, they would have a better leader than they have in Mike Howard.

Well, I could have pretended it WASN'T what I thought

I guess even my sister who HATES Howard AND Blair would probably agree that Blair would make a better Tory leader

Grey Wolf

 

[Mr.Bluenote]

If instead of joining the Labour Party and turning it into a centre-right political party, Tony Blair had followed his original instincts and joined the Conservative Party...

That's almost as good as a wet dream! With Tony B as a Tory then we might get some true conservative policies. Most of his policy as it is is more or less in line with most continental Conservatives. Thatcher was more of a Liberalist (as in no taxes and as little government as possible) than a true Conservative.

Without Blair I'd think Labour would be finished as a political power. No New labour, no overwelming support from the middle class. They would simply be stuck in their old school socialist ways and the Conservatives would benefit from Tony's charismatic and visionary leadership. The Liberals might actually gain from this too, as they might rise as a viable alternative to the reinvigorated Tories.

I actually didn't know Tony B considered running as a Conservative. Is that true, Grey?

Best regards!

- Bluenote.

 

[stodge]

Alternative Blair PODs

There are some other Blair PODs we can consider. What if he gives up politics completely after the Beaconsfield by-election ? What if he doesn't get selected for Sedgefield in 1983 ? What if he joins the SDP ?

I think any or all of these are more credible than him being a Conservative. His father wanted to be a Tory MP until a stroke ended his active political life.

If he hadn't got the Sedgefield seat in 1983, he might still have got into Parliament but probably not until 1992 and he would have been well behind Gordon Brown - indeed, he might now be serving in Brown's Cabinet.

Could he have joined the SDP ? Let's start with Tony Benn winning the Deputy Leadership in 1981. That would cause a further wave of defections from the already-battered Labour party. The Alliance gains new recruits and does better in the 1983 election than in OTL but is still third in terms of seats but not votes.

In this scenario, the Alliance with Blair as one of its MPs becomes the clear opposition in 1987 and wins the 1992 election under Jenkins. Blair becomes Honme Secretary and wins the 2001 leadership election after Jenkins retires, defeating Paddy Ashdown and Alan Beith. Blair becomes Alliance Prime Minister in a 3-way electoral system with the Tories under Howard and Labour under Brown.