Enoch Powell as Prime Minister

On June 20th, 1958, an improvised explosive device detonated at 51 Lime Street. It was the grand opening of the new Lloyd's building, and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan had been on hand for the event. The blast killed 27 people, including both Macmillan and Rab Butler, and injured almost 100 more.

In the ensuing days, Derick Heathcot-Amory took over as Acting Prime Minister. The bombing was claimed by the Irish Republican Army, who timed the attack to coincide with another bombing on the headquarters of the Ulster Special Constabulary and smaller raids on USC and RUC facilities in Londonderry, Newry and Rosslea.

Amory dispatched additional British Army patrols to the affected regions within Northern Ireland, but stopped short of punitive raids, a position which drew criticism from many and which made clear a sharp divide within the Conservative Party. The next months saw the bombings gain momentum, with a combined death toll of 24 over just 3 months. Giving in to pressure, Amory called for an emergency leadership convention. After a brief six-week campaign, Enoch Powell, who had stepped in as Chancellor of the Exchequer to replace Amory, emerged as the clear front-runner. He won the leadership handily and formed a new Conservative government, promising retribution against the IRA and any who supported them.
 
Um, Powell had resigned in Jan 1958. He wasn't a major figure (his return to government came in 1960, when he was made Minister of Health, not a Cabinet position).

The IRA wasn't particularly active in London 1958. The IRA existed, but in 1958, was not exactly a significant feature. IRA actions in London end in Feb 1940, and don't restart until October 1971. There was a fairly insignificant border campaign, in which over the period 1956-1962 (6 years), a grand total of 17 people were killed or wounded.
 
As David said you'd need a far earlier PoD to create such a scenario, both a huge change in IRA doctrine and capacity, and to put Powell anywhere near the party leadership.
 
Also and I hate to nitpick but two things

1: Theres no such role as "Acting Prime Minister. If Amory has gone to the palace and kissed hands he's the Prime Minister even if he only holds the position for a few days

2: If your POD is in 1958 there was no leadership convention or leadership campaign within the Tories at that time. That wouldn't come about until the 60's. At this point the decision. about who gets to be leader would still be in the hands of the Magic Circle of Tory grandees who given a choice between Amory and Powell would have picked Amory.
 
'Emergency leadership convention'? R U Cannuck?

This is magic circle days.

And as has been said, this is a scenario out of its time in other ways too. This is a curiously seventies scenario transplanted to the fities.

Research, a damn nice thing.
 
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