"Images of 1984" - Stories from Oceania
- Thread starter Will Ritson
- Start date
- Status
The 1945 General Election
Taken from "A Summary of United Kingdom General Elections from 1918 until the Second Revolution"; Harvard University, 1993
The United Kingdom General Election of 1945 was one of the most significant general elections of the 20th century, and the penultimate election before the onset of the First Revolution. It was held on Thursday 25 October 1945, with delayed polls taking place on 1, 8 and 15 November in a small number of constituencies due to logistical issues. It was ultimately counted and declared on between 3rd December 1945, due in part to the time it took to transport the votes of those serving overseas, particularly those serving in the Pacific theatre, and the huge numbers of occupation forces staged in north and western Germany.
It was the first general election to be held since 1935, as general elections had been suspended during the Second Great War, and resulted in the election defeat of the Conservatives led by Winston Churchill and the landslide victory of the Labour Party led by Clement Attlee. The scale of the Conservative defeat was a major shock to Churchill and his colleagues, as well as the Tory press, who throughout October and into November had been predicting a reasonable Conservative victory. Labour, with Sir Oswald Mosley as Deputy Prime Minister, won a substantial majority.
The result of the election was almost totally unexpected, given the heroic status of Winston Churchill, but reflected the voters' belief that the Labour Party were better able to rebuild the country following the war than the Conservatives. A manifesto based on providing quality social housing, cradle to grave health care, and a major public works programme was the major contribution of Mosley, who during his time in the National Government of 1940-5, had become something of a charismatic figure amongst working people, whilst growing labour support amongst the lower-middle classes.
Churchill and the Conservatives are also generally considered to have run a poor campaign in comparison to Labour; Churchill's statement that Mosley's programme would combine "a Stalinist public works policy implemented by a Gestapo-esque body" was considered to have been particularly poorly judged.
Equally, whilst voters respected and liked Churchill's wartime record, they were more distrustful of the Conservative Party's domestic and foreign policy record in the late thirties.
Labour had also been given, during the war, the opportunity to display to the electorate their domestic competence in government under men such as Attlee, Mosley, Goldstein and Ernest Bevin. The Labour victory was heralded as a great success, with Rutherford and Jones both attaining seats, as well as the Scot, Derek Aaronson, who was elected to represent the people of Glasgow Hillhead, ousting Conservative judge, James Reid.
The Labour Party ran on the campaign message "Let us face the future together - Unity is strength"
This was the only election in which Labour attained over 50% of all votes cast.
Labour 412 52%
Conservative 188 35%
Liberal 13 10%
Others 26 3% (inc. Independents, N. Irish Nationalist, Smaller parties)
Total 639 [1]
-----
[1] OTL Lab 393, Con 197, Lib 12, Others 37: The ATL sees a more unified left, with no ILP contested seats and communist votes minimised
Taken from "A Summary of United Kingdom General Elections from 1918 until the Second Revolution"; Harvard University, 1993
The United Kingdom General Election of 1945 was one of the most significant general elections of the 20th century, and the penultimate election before the onset of the First Revolution. It was held on Thursday 25 October 1945, with delayed polls taking place on 1, 8 and 15 November in a small number of constituencies due to logistical issues. It was ultimately counted and declared on between 3rd December 1945, due in part to the time it took to transport the votes of those serving overseas, particularly those serving in the Pacific theatre, and the huge numbers of occupation forces staged in north and western Germany.
It was the first general election to be held since 1935, as general elections had been suspended during the Second Great War, and resulted in the election defeat of the Conservatives led by Winston Churchill and the landslide victory of the Labour Party led by Clement Attlee. The scale of the Conservative defeat was a major shock to Churchill and his colleagues, as well as the Tory press, who throughout October and into November had been predicting a reasonable Conservative victory. Labour, with Sir Oswald Mosley as Deputy Prime Minister, won a substantial majority.
The result of the election was almost totally unexpected, given the heroic status of Winston Churchill, but reflected the voters' belief that the Labour Party were better able to rebuild the country following the war than the Conservatives. A manifesto based on providing quality social housing, cradle to grave health care, and a major public works programme was the major contribution of Mosley, who during his time in the National Government of 1940-5, had become something of a charismatic figure amongst working people, whilst growing labour support amongst the lower-middle classes.
Churchill and the Conservatives are also generally considered to have run a poor campaign in comparison to Labour; Churchill's statement that Mosley's programme would combine "a Stalinist public works policy implemented by a Gestapo-esque body" was considered to have been particularly poorly judged.
Equally, whilst voters respected and liked Churchill's wartime record, they were more distrustful of the Conservative Party's domestic and foreign policy record in the late thirties.
Labour had also been given, during the war, the opportunity to display to the electorate their domestic competence in government under men such as Attlee, Mosley, Goldstein and Ernest Bevin. The Labour victory was heralded as a great success, with Rutherford and Jones both attaining seats, as well as the Scot, Derek Aaronson, who was elected to represent the people of Glasgow Hillhead, ousting Conservative judge, James Reid.
The Labour Party ran on the campaign message "Let us face the future together - Unity is strength"
This was the only election in which Labour attained over 50% of all votes cast.
Labour 412 52%
Conservative 188 35%
Liberal 13 10%
Others 26 3% (inc. Independents, N. Irish Nationalist, Smaller parties)
Total 639 [1]
-----
[1] OTL Lab 393, Con 197, Lib 12, Others 37: The ATL sees a more unified left, with no ILP contested seats and communist votes minimised
Last edited:
Introducing Mr Smith...
Uxbridge, west London
The numbers of middle-class voters switching to labour was highlighted particularly in the contituency of Uxbridge, where 34 year old James Smith was a good example of such a voter. Smith was public school and Oxford educated, and worked in the Civil Service. Traditionally a Tory voter, he was a huge admirer of Churchill during the Second Great War, but felt that by 1945 Britain needed change. He is married to Susan, and has an eight month old son, called Winston (b. 24 Feb 1945), named after the then-Prime Minister.
Uxbridge, west London
The numbers of middle-class voters switching to labour was highlighted particularly in the contituency of Uxbridge, where 34 year old James Smith was a good example of such a voter. Smith was public school and Oxford educated, and worked in the Civil Service. Traditionally a Tory voter, he was a huge admirer of Churchill during the Second Great War, but felt that by 1945 Britain needed change. He is married to Susan, and has an eight month old son, called Winston (b. 24 Feb 1945), named after the then-Prime Minister.
Last edited:
Very good... reminds me of the C&C series, for some reason...
The whole update was great - well done!
I'm enjoying this alternative view of 1984. just one question - in the book there are references to the occasional rocket bomb landing on London (usually in Prole areas). In this TL, is the Republic of England actually being attacked by another country (and if so, how does it respond) or are these rockets being launched by the Party for propaganda purposes (i.e. to convince the Proles that there really is a war in progress) ?
Cheers,
Nigel.
Cheers,
Nigel.
All in good time, young man.
Thanks for the continued feedback. I'm finding writing the backstory more time consuming than I imagined - but I need to make sure that all the key ingredients to make a revolution and counter-revolution are in place, whilst giving a backstory on named characters (Goldstein, Winston, Julia, O'Brien etc. - not to mention his excellency "Big Brother").
Let's just say that this will start to get really interesting when 1950s are upon us and all hell break lose.
The following real life individuals play a significant role in the ATL:
- Maggie Thatcher
- Tony Benn
- Rupert Murdoch
Would it be wrong to include a certain Eric Blair, MP, after all, he was in OTL a member of the now influential ILP?
Who do people actually think that BB actually is in the year 1984, based on the TL so far and the hints I've given above?
Please don't give up - you're writing some fascinating and high-quality material, here. Take as much time as you need with it. It's a brilliant idea that's been crying out to be written for a long time. The incusion of real-life charecters from OTL is interesting too - it's going to be intriguing to learn how the turned out in the 1984-TL and what role they play in that society.
I think that Eric Blair is a must have in this timeline. Only problem is who will write "1984" if he gets too deep into politics?
Hang on a bit.....he isn't gonna be BB is he? I don't think he was politically active enough, more the observer type.
Mosely is a bit too obvious, and I was inclining towards Aneirin Bevin, or even Ernest Bevan but....Tony Benn....maybe. Very militant hard left, young enough too. He was Lord Anthony Wedgewood-Benn at that time...could count against him?
We can certtainly eliminate Attlee and Churchill,
In the Appendix to 1984 I'm sure it mentions somewhere that in the new ruling class after the Revolution were included newspaper and other mass media magnates, so Rupert Murdoch could be a contendah too...
Hang on a bit.....he isn't gonna be BB is he? I don't think he was politically active enough, more the observer type.
Mosely is a bit too obvious, and I was inclining towards Aneirin Bevin, or even Ernest Bevan but....Tony Benn....maybe. Very militant hard left, young enough too. He was Lord Anthony Wedgewood-Benn at that time...could count against him?
We can certtainly eliminate Attlee and Churchill,
In the Appendix to 1984 I'm sure it mentions somewhere that in the new ruling class after the Revolution were included newspaper and other mass media magnates, so Rupert Murdoch could be a contendah too...
Last edited:
Don't say things like that. It gives me a headache thinking about it..!
Ooh, the thought of it... the puppet, or the puppet master..?
Well historically Eric Blair alias George Orwell died 21 January in 1950, so if he gets a role in this timeline - which is quite plausible considering his historical activity for left-wing movements -, it could not last very long, unless he lives longer than he did in OTL.
Similarly, Ernest Bevin died in 1951, aged 70. So even if events in this tale butterfly his demise away, he might be too old to play a major role in the first and second revolution or even become Big Brother.
But Aneurin Bevan and Tony Benn are possibilities - Benn can always discard his peerage as a "sacrifice to the working class" (that they belonged to the Russian lower nobility did not prevent Lenin, Zhdanov or Molotov brom being important in Bolshevik Russia, nor did Dzerzhinsky's origins as a member of the Polish szlachta prevent him from becoming a fanatical Bolshevik and first chairman of the Cheka). There is, of course, still Michael Foot (born in 1913 so his age would be all right) and he historically got his first seat in 1945 as MP for Plymouth, Devonport.
I think we can exclude Sir Stafford Cripps. While he was a radical firebrand, he died in 1952 due to Colitis and thus would be out of the picture by the time the two revolutions turn everything upside down (in any case he would have been in his late sixties by the time of the second revolution).
Similarly, Ernest Bevin died in 1951, aged 70. So even if events in this tale butterfly his demise away, he might be too old to play a major role in the first and second revolution or even become Big Brother.
But Aneurin Bevan and Tony Benn are possibilities - Benn can always discard his peerage as a "sacrifice to the working class" (that they belonged to the Russian lower nobility did not prevent Lenin, Zhdanov or Molotov brom being important in Bolshevik Russia, nor did Dzerzhinsky's origins as a member of the Polish szlachta prevent him from becoming a fanatical Bolshevik and first chairman of the Cheka). There is, of course, still Michael Foot (born in 1913 so his age would be all right) and he historically got his first seat in 1945 as MP for Plymouth, Devonport.
I think we can exclude Sir Stafford Cripps. While he was a radical firebrand, he died in 1952 due to Colitis and thus would be out of the picture by the time the two revolutions turn everything upside down (in any case he would have been in his late sixties by the time of the second revolution).
Last edited:
Another possibility not mentioned yet is Enoch Powell (wiki):
"Powell began the war as the youngest professor in the Commonwealth; he ended it as the youngest Brigadier in the British army, the only man in the entire war to rise from Private to Brigadier. Powell felt guilty for having survived when many of those he had met during his journey through the ranks had not. When once asked how he would like to be remembered, he at first answered "Others will remember me as they will remember me", but when pressed he replied "I should like to have been killed in the war."[15]"
He has a very impressive bio and was a true political maverick from a working class background, though a Tory in this TL.
"Powell began the war as the youngest professor in the Commonwealth; he ended it as the youngest Brigadier in the British army, the only man in the entire war to rise from Private to Brigadier. Powell felt guilty for having survived when many of those he had met during his journey through the ranks had not. When once asked how he would like to be remembered, he at first answered "Others will remember me as they will remember me", but when pressed he replied "I should like to have been killed in the war."[15]"
He has a very impressive bio and was a true political maverick from a working class background, though a Tory in this TL.
I had not thought about Enoch Powell, but he might even be a candidate for the job.
Based on what I read, he was distrustful of the US and also was opposed to the withdrawal from the Empire that began in the 50s (if Wikipedia is to be believed, which is of course often in doubt, he supposedly wanted to become governor-general in India).
The socialistic upheavals in the 50s might have led to a right-wing counterrevolution that was combined with anti-American and isolationist sentiment. Only, based on what is stated in this thread, the Party is ruling over a United Republic of England, which implies abdication of the monarchy and perhaps even retreat from areas such as Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland - I am not sure a Tory monarchist such Powell would have been a friend of that. Aside from this, the economy in Oceania is a command economy like in Russia, which is at odds with Powell's belief in capitalism.
"Michael Foot would definitely have been involved in the Revolution.....a Bukharin type?"
A Bukharanite type in the sense that he is on the slightly "moderate" faction in the Revolution, but goes down as it radicalises more and more? Could be possible, I think. I do not think we will hear much about Neil Kinnock, as he would be too young.
As for possible Tory candidates, I cannot think of many - Rab Butler and Macmillan might have favoured interventionist economic policies similar to those of Keynes, but I do not think they would be radical enough and thus them supporting the formation of a collectivist dictatorship seems a bit unlikely, though one can never know.
Alternatively, of course, the revolution might also be carried by elements of the army. Are there any generals, apart from former brigadier Powell, who would fit the bill?
Based on what I read, he was distrustful of the US and also was opposed to the withdrawal from the Empire that began in the 50s (if Wikipedia is to be believed, which is of course often in doubt, he supposedly wanted to become governor-general in India).
The socialistic upheavals in the 50s might have led to a right-wing counterrevolution that was combined with anti-American and isolationist sentiment. Only, based on what is stated in this thread, the Party is ruling over a United Republic of England, which implies abdication of the monarchy and perhaps even retreat from areas such as Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland - I am not sure a Tory monarchist such Powell would have been a friend of that. Aside from this, the economy in Oceania is a command economy like in Russia, which is at odds with Powell's belief in capitalism.
"Michael Foot would definitely have been involved in the Revolution.....a Bukharin type?"
A Bukharanite type in the sense that he is on the slightly "moderate" faction in the Revolution, but goes down as it radicalises more and more? Could be possible, I think. I do not think we will hear much about Neil Kinnock, as he would be too young.
As for possible Tory candidates, I cannot think of many - Rab Butler and Macmillan might have favoured interventionist economic policies similar to those of Keynes, but I do not think they would be radical enough and thus them supporting the formation of a collectivist dictatorship seems a bit unlikely, though one can never know.
Alternatively, of course, the revolution might also be carried by elements of the army. Are there any generals, apart from former brigadier Powell, who would fit the bill?
I don't really think there are any Army candidates but I can think of an Air Force Marshal......Bomber Harris.
Per wiki:
"
Within the post war British government, there was now some disquiet about the level of destruction created by the area bombing of German cities towards the end of the war. However, Harris was made Marshal of the Royal Air Force in 1945. He retired on September 15, 1945. he went on to write his story of Bomber Command's achievements in Bomber Offensive. He was the sole commander-in-chief not made a peer in 1946. Bomber Command's crews were denied a separate campaign medal (despite being eligible for the Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star) and, in protest at this establishment snub to his men, Harris refused a peerage.[18] Disappointed by the criticisms of his methods, Harris moved to South Africa in 1948, and was the manager of the South African Marine Corporation from 1946 to 1953.
In 1953 Churchill, now Prime Minister again, insisted that Harris accept a baronetcy and he became 1st Baronet of Chipping Wycombe.[19] In the same year he returned to the UK and lived his remaining years in Goring-on-Thames, in Ferry Cottage."
He was a hard man with little tolerance for the Government in OTL.
Per wiki:
"
Within the post war British government, there was now some disquiet about the level of destruction created by the area bombing of German cities towards the end of the war. However, Harris was made Marshal of the Royal Air Force in 1945. He retired on September 15, 1945. he went on to write his story of Bomber Command's achievements in Bomber Offensive. He was the sole commander-in-chief not made a peer in 1946. Bomber Command's crews were denied a separate campaign medal (despite being eligible for the Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star) and, in protest at this establishment snub to his men, Harris refused a peerage.[18] Disappointed by the criticisms of his methods, Harris moved to South Africa in 1948, and was the manager of the South African Marine Corporation from 1946 to 1953.
In 1953 Churchill, now Prime Minister again, insisted that Harris accept a baronetcy and he became 1st Baronet of Chipping Wycombe.[19] In the same year he returned to the UK and lived his remaining years in Goring-on-Thames, in Ferry Cottage."
He was a hard man with little tolerance for the Government in OTL.
Consider my breath suitably baited.
Definitiely include him, though I suspect that he will be eliminated in the purge following the second revolution.
My first thought was Moseley - he's certainly got the moustache for the part. OTOH, as others have noted, he is probably a bit too obvious.
Cheers,
Nigel.
Or maybe Enoch Powell?
Edit to add: oopss! just seen others have got in there before me on this!
In the Appendix to 1984 I'm sure it mentions somewhere that in the new ruling class after the Revolution were included newspaper and other mass media magnates, so Rupert Murdoch could be a contendah too...
By extension that could include media personalities. The book describes BB as "a man of about forty-five, with a heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features".
I know ! It's Bruce Forsythe !
Cheers,
Nigel.
- Status