I was wondering what people think the butterflies would be of Gladstone never seeing a second ministry? He dies by chance, a fall or heart attack, I'm more interested what effect it would have on British politics from 1879 onwards.
IOTL Gladstone dominated Liberal and national politics well into the 1890s, ensuring a split with Joseph Chamberlain's unionist wing and a dedication to laissez-faire economics that left the Party divided until the 1909 People's Budget firmly placed the Liberals in the interventionist camp.
I was wondering people's thoughts on the POD?
I'd imagine the Liberals will still win the 1880 General Election, although with a reduced majority. Lord Hartington would become Prime Minister, as he was offered such before Gladstone IOTL, and Lord Granville, the Liberal leader in the Lords is far too much of a damp flannel to present decent opposition or alternative (Hartington refused No. 10 several times in the 1880s so probably wont be 100% keen). Notably Hartington was oppossed to Home Rule even before his brother was murdered in the Phoinex Park attacks, and if such an event where to take place ITTL it wouldn't improve matters. Despite this and his early leadership of the Liberal Unionists he was at odds with Chamberlain over Tariff Reform, however this didn't rear its head until the 1900s.
So ideas?