Cecil Rhodes: England's Kaiser?

The premise here is that Cecil Rhodes remained in England and managed to become Prime Minister. What kind of a PM would he have made for England during the height of its Empire? Rhodes, while an ardent imperialist, believed in allowing local, rather than London, rule in South Africa, so it's conceivable that he might have followed this policy as PM, ironically perhaps encouraging earlier independence movements in Africa as a result.
 
The premise here is that Cecil Rhodes remained in England and managed to become Prime Minister. What kind of a PM would he have made for England during the height of its Empire? Rhodes, while an ardent imperialist, believed in allowing local, rather than London, rule in South Africa, so it's conceivable that he might have followed this policy as PM, ironically perhaps encouraging earlier independence movements in Africa as a result.

WestVirginiaRebel

I suspect not. I think it was more than he disagreed with interference from London simply because that was often contrary to his own interests and plans. For instance trying to provide some degree of protection to local people's against encroachment by white settlers because it might trigger war while Britain would have to pay for.

I think if somehow he became PM he would seek to rule from London, probably more tightly than most PMs did OTL.

Steve
 

Cook

Banned
Rhodes, while an ardent imperialist, believed in allowing local, rather than London, rule in South Africa,

I think it would be fair to say he was an Imperialist to the extent that it was his empire he was carving out; interference from London only restricted his accumulation of wealth.
 

mowque

Banned
I think it would be fair to say he was an Imperialist to the extent that it was his empire he was carving out; interference from London only restricted his accumulation of wealth.

Yes, he was out to get his own pride and ego (and wealth) boosted.He wasn't doing it for King and Country.
 
I think it would be fair to say he was an Imperialist to the extent that it was his empire he was carving out; interference from London only restricted his accumulation of wealth.
Agreed. He was highly egocentric. "All Rhodes lead to Cecil" syndrome.
 
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