Callaghan's Choice

Based on my own reading of Jim Callaghan's government and the problems it encountered, this ATL is based on the premise that when Callaghan became prime minister he made the following cabinet decisions.

Chancellor-Tony Crosland
Foreign Secretary-Denis Healey

The idea here being that a strong and some might say stubborn heavyweights would be more successful in the IMF negotiations.

On the industrial front Tony Benn would return to employment and Roy Mason would be at the head of a new super ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

This would leave Michael Foot to become NI secretary

Shirley Williams would take over as Leader Of The Commons with John Smith as Regional Affairs minister with special focus on devolution.


This combination may have led to a better outlook for the UK with Callaghan feeling able to call and win an Election in '78.

Any thought?
 
Isn't Crosland's brain haemorrhage slightly inevitable? Maybe more likely given the stress from the IMF crisis.

Edit: Ah ok, so his death still happens :)
 
Owen as Chancellor? Can't see it happening. Bill Rodgers could be Chancellor before David Owen. Owen's expertise was in health, foreign affairs, defense and he did work a bit in environment. Also, Owen was considered a bit too overpromoted when he was named Foreign Secretary after Crosland died. I think naming a 38 or 39 year old Chancellor with no previous economic portfolio might not be the best way to go.

A better choice would have been Edmund Dell or Shirley Williams. As stated above, Rodgers was desirous of being Chancellor, but I could see Dell being the choice.
 
Owen as Chancellor? Can't see it happening. Bill Rodgers could be Chancellor before David Owen. Owen's expertise was in health, foreign affairs, defense and he did work a bit in environment. Also, Owen was considered a bit too overpromoted when he was named Foreign Secretary after Crosland died. I think naming a 38 or 39 year old Chancellor with no previous economic portfolio might not be the best way to go.

A better choice would have been Edmund Dell or Shirley Williams. As stated above, Rodgers was desirous of being Chancellor, but I could see Dell being the choice.

OK. Lets say Dell becomes Chancellor. Williams has a job and a half working with the Liberals to sustain the pact and collaborating with Foot to ensure the SDLP stay onside.
 
The thinking behind Callaghan's cabinet is based on the three areas causing concern in the UK in the mid 1970's

With fighters and intellectuals such as Crosland/Dell and Healey in foreign and economic affairs. Labour can say that we are determined to get the best possible deal from the IMF but will not cross any red lines.

Likewise with the economic situation at home. Crosland and later Dell would be able to apply new thinking.

In terms of the industrial strife. Placing strong union favourites such as Mason and Benn at Trade and Employment would possibly have led to a more emollient response from the unions etc and the winter of discontent may not have happened.

With the Williams/Foot/Smith combination. A more moderate and consensual approach may have avoided some of the parliamentary contortions (eg Williams and David Steel working together from 1976 instead of 1981)

Plus Foot in Ulster may have worked wonders.
 
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