Blue is the Colour: A gang of four ATL

1981: Margaret Thatcher is at her lowest ebb politically. Her approval rating is low. Her industrial policy has started to tear communities apart and her European policy is chafing.


For some Tory MP's this is too much. In The Limehouse Declaration Norman St John Stevas, Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler, Jim Prior and Francis Pym announce the creation of "One Nation" a centrist party dedicated to as they see it "reversing the damaging and cataclysmic changes happening in our country"

They announce they will start co-operating with the Liberal Party.
 
Cool start.

One problem is that the OTL Limehouse Agreement was called that because, well, David Owen lived in the 'Limehouse'. :eek: Unless he's involved with this, it's hard to see them using his house for this... :D
 
Cool start.

One problem is that the OTL Limehouse Agreement was called that because, well, David Owen lived in the 'Limehouse'. :eek: Unless he's involved with this, it's hard to see them using his house for this... :D
I thought it was either Williams or Rodgers who lived in Limehouse? I am fairly certain it wasnt Owen at least.Still, it isnt the Limehouse agreement, I think we can all agree.
An interesting idea for a TL though, I hadnt considered the split coming from within the Tory party rather than Labour, but I suppose it was in many ways just as likely. I would be interested to see what effects this has on Thatcher, and the Tories electoral prospects. In OTL, the SDP ultimately hurt Labour in the GE by splitting the left wing vote. If a similar thing took place with Thatcher, it could give Labour a far better showing under Foot at the election than they originally had.
Not only that, but if the defections are in the realm of 20 plus MPs, as it was for Labour, Thatcher loses her majority, triggering an early election at a very turbulent but interesting time for British politics.
One critique I would have is of Brocklebank-Fowler being included in the Gang of Four. From what I have read about the SDP, he was just a relatively unimportant backbencher. What made the Gang of Four important was that they were a high ranking group within the Labour Party who had held cabinet positions. There were defections from backbenchers, but they were not considered to be part of the Gang. He would likely be a defector, but he is not well known enough to be a major figurehead from the outset.
Other than that, I look forward to reading new posts.
 
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I think the Limehouse is on Narrowstreet, where Owen supposively lived.

Speaking of Owen, is the SDP prevented somehow in this TL?
 
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