Charles James Fox as Prime Minister?

While I am aware that Thande gave this fantastically larger than life individual a starring role in LttW, I would be interested in seeing your views on a Fox Premiership under more normal circumstances. Given the fact that he was a radical Whig and that this made him such an anathema in the view of George III, I think that it would take considerable effort to actually make him the leader of an administration.

However, let us say that for the sake of argument, King George sees his porphyria force him away from politics at an earlier period leaving an uninterested Regency in power at the start of British intervention in the Revolutionary Wars. Let us say that Pitt, in a fit of passion decides upon a far more active intervention in War of the First Coalition with a resulting defeat for the British army in, lets say 1794. Should Pitt and the Tories be forced from office by such a defeat on the skill of Fox's oratory and a young Prince George is unable to resist his appointment, what cause would we see a Fox-led Government take?

Personally I think that we would see the end of British involvement in the French Revolution which may well butterfly away the Empire and Napoleon, domestically, we would perhaps see a radical agenda take place under far more dynamic lines than we saw in OTL around the Great Reform Act, however, I suppose that at the same time such legislation would be dependant on how the Tories would be able to fare in opposition.

Anyway, what are your thoughts dear fellows?
 
I like it, but you seem to have summed it up pretty well

The stumbling blocks would be royal assent, and the Lords, especially if Fox tries to do something such as Catholic Emancipation.

Ah, dinner's ready !

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 

Thande

Donor
I think Fox would have enough trouble getting a majority just in the Commons even without the other concerns. For LTTW I basically gave him the best possible circumstances: backed by Burke's moderate Liberal Whigs to allow a majority, a divided and ineffective conservative opposition, and a King who was a true believer in reform rather than doing it for realpolitick reasons like the Prince Regent, and capable of threatening the House of Lords into granting assent.
 
I think Fox would have enough trouble getting a majority just in the Commons even without the other concerns. For LTTW I basically gave him the best possible circumstances: backed by Burke's moderate Liberal Whigs to allow a majority, a divided and ineffective conservative opposition, and a King who was a true believer in reform rather than doing it for realpolitick reasons like the Prince Regent, and capable of threatening the House of Lords into granting assent.
Yep, that pretty much sums up my opinion.
 
I think Fox would have enough trouble getting a majority just in the Commons even without the other concerns. For LTTW I basically gave him the best possible circumstances: backed by Burke's moderate Liberal Whigs to allow a majority, a divided and ineffective conservative opposition, and a King who was a true believer in reform rather than doing it for realpolitick reasons like the Prince Regent, and capable of threatening the House of Lords into granting assent.

Of course, I am not as convinced of his "lalala, let's let the Revolutionary French invade" status as you are.
 
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