EEC vote fails, 1972

IIRC the EEC vote was an extremely close call for Heath: less than 10 votes difference. WI the EEC vote had failed due to Tory rebels? Presumably Heath is finished, after having his political raison d'etre , the project on which he staked his entire political career, destroyed within 30 minutes on national television. Who would succeed him? A One National or a monetarist?
 
At that time Powell was probably the heir apparent but the Tories have a tendency to surprise you, e.g. Major, Cameron and Hague so maybe Whitelaw though its a bit early.
Longer term if its Whitelaw then another try, probably with Labour support and pretty much otl but with the Tory party turning Euro-sceptic earlier. As much as I hate to say it Britain staying out with a PoD in 1972 is unlikely, the only question was the terms of entry.
That said if Powell gets in then no EU until he is defeated which considering the state of the country will probably be at the next election.
 
Wasn't Powell politically taboo after Rivers of Blood, not to mention his conspiracy-minded views on foreign policy? The Tory caucus was largely One Nationalistic ideologically. They'd probably go for Whitelaw, though he's much better suited to being DPM than PM.
 
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