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This is a general "could it happen under the right conditions" WI.

I've been reading a few history books centered around British politics in the 1930s-50s and there seems a strong correlation that both Tories and Liberals viewed Churchill as the "last Whig" (a quote from Liberal, Violet Bonham-Carter IIRC).

Let's say there's no WWII or even if there is of some sort, Churchill doesn't come to the fore, lest alone Prime Minister (say Eden remains Foriegn Secretary and fights the hawk cause, overshadowing old backbencher Churchill).

So anyway, elections role round and the Tories take a pummeling, Labour comes in with their radical programme.

Isolated within the now seemingly wilderness bound Conservative Party, Churchill looks to the Libs, who are suffering from their long-term internal wranglings over where they sit: left or right? Would Churchill who is ideologically divided between the two parties, has a history with the Liberals, has seen his great cause of opposing Hitler snatched from him, and knows he'll probably never sit in a Tory govt. again look on the Liberal Party as a possible consolation prize? Why not end his days as leader of the Liberal Party than rot in the backbenches?

Not saying he would become leader but say Churchill feels betrayed that he hasn't returned to power in some form? He was certainly close friends with many Liberals (VB-C included), could they bring him over to try and instill a Whiggish order to the party? Figures like Gwilym Lloyd-George would certainly back him, at a time when his family name stillheld clout following David's recent death.

So ideas?
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