Keeping the British Liberal Party flag flying high
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The Republicans are the largest party with 164 seats, the Social Democrats are second with 145 seats, and the Democrats have 128 seats. A coalition of Social Democrats and Democrats control the House. The Republicans lost control of the House in the 1958 mid term elections because a fairly severe economic recession.
It was a better performance for the Great Britain team than at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome in OTL.
At the Social Democrat National Convention held in Chicago in the first week of August 1960, Senator Hubert Humphrey, Senator from Minnesota was chosen as candidate for President. The delegates picked Senator Sam Yorty, Senator from California, as the Vice-Presidential candidate.
indeed the performance was better but since the introduction of Lottery funding the UK has moved up to dizzy heights. BTW how is paralympic sport iitl
The paralympic games had a greater media coverage in the UK than in OTL. This was partly because King Henry IX had cerebral palsy, and Denis Healey was a wheelchair user.
The Republican ticket of Cabot Lodge/Knowland were favourites to win a second term. Because presidents seeking re-election are more likely than not to be successful, the America economy was recovering from the recession, Civil Rights legislation had been enacted, and the anti Republican vote was divided between the Democrats and Social Democrats. Both these parties didn't want to end up in third place.
As expected Cabot Lodge/Knowland were re-elected with 316 electoral votes. The Democrat ticket of Jackson/Kennedy came second with 123 electoral votes, while Humphrey/Yorty for the Social Democrats received 98 electoral votes.
As expected Cabot Lodge/Knowland were re-elected with 316 electoral votes. The Democrat ticket of Jackson/Kennedy came second with 123 electoral votes, while Humphrey/Yorty for the Social Democrats received 98 electoral votes.
The percentage votes for each party ticket were as follows [1956 presidential election]:
Cabot Lodge/Knowland (Republican): 40.7 [39.1]
Jackson/Kennedy (Democrat): 30.4 [28.2]
Humphrey/Yorty (Social Democrat) 28.6 [32.3]
Others: 0.3 [0.4]
The following states were won by Cabot Lodge/Knowland:
Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri. Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming. Total = 30
Jackson/Kennedy won these these states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Washington. Total = 11
The following states voted for Humphrey/Yorty:
California, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Total = 9
Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri. Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming. Total = 30
Jackson/Kennedy won these these states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Washington. Total = 11
The following states voted for Humphrey/Yorty:
California, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Total = 9
The composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate after the 1960 mid term elections was as follows [after 1958 elections]:
House of Representatives:
Republicans: 178 [164]
Social Democrats: 136 [145]
Democrats: 123 [128]
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Total: 437 [435]
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Senate:
Democrats: 53 [53]
Republicans: 31 [26]
Social Democrats: 16 [17]
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Total: 100 [96]
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In the House, Adam Clayton Powell Jr,[Social Democrat] was re-elected Speaker, while Joseph Martin and Sam Rayburn continued as Republican continued as Republican and Democrat leaders respectively. In the Senate Lyndon Baines Johnson continued in office as Majority Leader with Everett Dirksen as Minority Leader.
House of Representatives:
Republicans: 178 [164]
Social Democrats: 136 [145]
Democrats: 123 [128]
----------------------
Total: 437 [435]
---------------------
Senate:
Democrats: 53 [53]
Republicans: 31 [26]
Social Democrats: 16 [17]
-----------------
Total: 100 [96]
----------------
In the House, Adam Clayton Powell Jr,[Social Democrat] was re-elected Speaker, while Joseph Martin and Sam Rayburn continued as Republican continued as Republican and Democrat leaders respectively. In the Senate Lyndon Baines Johnson continued in office as Majority Leader with Everett Dirksen as Minority Leader.
The result of the Ebbw Vale by-election on 19 October 1960, caused by the death of Aneurin Bevan, was as follows [June 1960 general election]
George Thomas [Socialist Labour]: 65.2% [66.0%]
Liberal candidate: 14.9% [18.9%]
Plaid Cymru candidate: 10.2% [n/a]
Conservative candidate: 9.7% [15.1%]
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Socialist Labour majority: 50.3% [47.1%]
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The swing from Liberal to Socialist Labour was 1.6%.
George Thomas was Socialist Labour MP for Cardiff East from October 1955 to June 1960. His seat was abolished in the redistribution of seats before the 1960 general election. He stood in Cardiff South-East but lost to the Conservative candidate.
George Thomas [Socialist Labour]: 65.2% [66.0%]
Liberal candidate: 14.9% [18.9%]
Plaid Cymru candidate: 10.2% [n/a]
Conservative candidate: 9.7% [15.1%]
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Socialist Labour majority: 50.3% [47.1%]
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The swing from Liberal to Socialist Labour was 1.6%.
George Thomas was Socialist Labour MP for Cardiff East from October 1955 to June 1960. His seat was abolished in the redistribution of seats before the 1960 general election. He stood in Cardiff South-East but lost to the Conservative candidate.
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The general election to the UK Senate took place on Thursday 2 March 1961. The number of Senators elected for each party were as follows [March 1955 election]:
Liberal: 101 [84]
Conservative and Unionist: 93 [125]
Socialist Labour: 75 [58]
Independents: 8 [12]
Plaid Cymru: 3 [3]
Irish Nationalist: 2 [2]
Northern Ireland Labour: 1 [-]
Progressive: 1 [-]
Scottish Nationalist: 1 [1]
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Total: 125 [125]
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Liberal: 101 [84]
Conservative and Unionist: 93 [125]
Socialist Labour: 75 [58]
Independents: 8 [12]
Plaid Cymru: 3 [3]
Irish Nationalist: 2 [2]
Northern Ireland Labour: 1 [-]
Progressive: 1 [-]
Scottish Nationalist: 1 [1]
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Total: 125 [125]
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After Senate elections the number of Life Senators increased proportionately for parties which had an increase in their elected Senators. Therefore the number of Life Senators for each party and Independents were as follows [after March 1955 election]:
Conservative: 47 [47]
Liberal: 46 [38]
Socialist Labour: 31 [24]
Independents: 25 [25]
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Total: 149 [134]
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The composition of the Senate was now as follows:
Liberal: 147 [122]
Conservative: 140 [172]
Socialist Labour: 106 [82]
Independents: 33 [37]
Law Lords and bishops: 33 [33]
Plaid Cymru: 3 [3]
Irish Nationalist: 2 [2]
Northern Ireland Labour: 1 [-]
Progressive: 1 [-]
Scottish Nationalist: 1 [1]
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Total: 467 [452]
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Conservative: 47 [47]
Liberal: 46 [38]
Socialist Labour: 31 [24]
Independents: 25 [25]
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Total: 149 [134]
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The composition of the Senate was now as follows:
Liberal: 147 [122]
Conservative: 140 [172]
Socialist Labour: 106 [82]
Independents: 33 [37]
Law Lords and bishops: 33 [33]
Plaid Cymru: 3 [3]
Irish Nationalist: 2 [2]
Northern Ireland Labour: 1 [-]
Progressive: 1 [-]
Scottish Nationalist: 1 [1]
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Total: 467 [452]
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Several former and sitting MPs were elected to the Senate or made Life Senators. These were as follows for each party:
Conservative: Rolf Dudley Williams and Frederick Farey-Jones who lost Exeter and Watford in the June 1960 general election, were elected as Conservative Senators for East Devon and West Hertfordshire respectively. Robert Boothby [Aberdeenshire East] and Dame Katharine Elliot [Glasgow Kelvingrove] resigned their seats and were elected Senators for Aberdeenshire and Glasgow West respectively.
Liberal: Robert Bernays and John Seys-Llewellyn who were defeated in Bristol Central and Chester in the 1960 general election, were appointed Life Senators. Sir Geoffrey Acland [Westmorland], Megan Lloyd George [Anglesey] and Harold Macmillan [Horncastle] resigned as MPs and were appointed Life Senators.
Socialist Labour: James Griffiths who had retired as MP for Llanelli in the general election and Tom Driberg who had lost Walthmstow West were appointed Life Peers. Jennie Lee resigned as MP for Glasgow Bridgeton and was made a Life Peer.
Though the Senate was less important than the House of Commons, it was possible to make a career path in the Upper House. In every government at least two cabinet ministers were Senators, as well as several junior ministers. Senate Committees had been created in November 1956. They were modelled on the Committees of the United States Senate, but the intention that they would be as powerful has not been achieved. However the Chairmanship of a Committee was an important and prestigious post.
Conservative: Rolf Dudley Williams and Frederick Farey-Jones who lost Exeter and Watford in the June 1960 general election, were elected as Conservative Senators for East Devon and West Hertfordshire respectively. Robert Boothby [Aberdeenshire East] and Dame Katharine Elliot [Glasgow Kelvingrove] resigned their seats and were elected Senators for Aberdeenshire and Glasgow West respectively.
Liberal: Robert Bernays and John Seys-Llewellyn who were defeated in Bristol Central and Chester in the 1960 general election, were appointed Life Senators. Sir Geoffrey Acland [Westmorland], Megan Lloyd George [Anglesey] and Harold Macmillan [Horncastle] resigned as MPs and were appointed Life Senators.
Socialist Labour: James Griffiths who had retired as MP for Llanelli in the general election and Tom Driberg who had lost Walthmstow West were appointed Life Peers. Jennie Lee resigned as MP for Glasgow Bridgeton and was made a Life Peer.
Though the Senate was less important than the House of Commons, it was possible to make a career path in the Upper House. In every government at least two cabinet ministers were Senators, as well as several junior ministers. Senate Committees had been created in November 1956. They were modelled on the Committees of the United States Senate, but the intention that they would be as powerful has not been achieved. However the Chairmanship of a Committee was an important and prestigious post.
Bummer, it looks like Jennie Lee and Megan Lloyd George have moved on to greener pastures. They’ve been colorful and enriching characters in this story for years.
Jennie Lee and Harold Macmillan could still be cabinet ministers in the mid to late 1960s/early 1970s.
The Senate has the right to veto legislation coming from the House of Commons, except for bills certified by the Speaker as money bills. It also does not have the power to delay money bills. Legislation which restricts or abolishes the rights and liberties of the British people requires three-quarters of the membership of the Senate to be passes [1]
The Select Committees of the Senate have the right to cross examine who ever they want, and to call for papers. In 1961 there were twenty select committees each with fifteen members. Their composition were in accordance the representation of the parties and of the independents in the Senate. The law lords did not sit on any committee, though the bishops did. The committees shadowed government departments, except for the Treasury. Their chairs reflected party representation. After the March 1961 elections, the Conservatives and Liberals each chaired six committees, Socialist Labour five, and Independents one, as follows:
Conservative: Agriculture, Defence, Education, Home, Northern Ireland [Ulster Unionist], Transport, Works.
Liberal: Foreign, Housing and Local Government, Overseas Development, Pensions and National Insurance, Post Office, Trade, Wales.
Socialist Labour: Commonwealth Relations, Health, Labour, Power, Scotland.
Independents: Colonies.
Among the Independent Life Senators were men and women with distinguished careers outside politics, such as former ambassadors, high commissioners, colonial governors, senior commanders in the armed forces and university vice chancellors.
[1] See the last paragraph of post #226 on page 12.
The Senate has the right to veto legislation coming from the House of Commons, except for bills certified by the Speaker as money bills. It also does not have the power to delay money bills. Legislation which restricts or abolishes the rights and liberties of the British people requires three-quarters of the membership of the Senate to be passes [1]
The Select Committees of the Senate have the right to cross examine who ever they want, and to call for papers. In 1961 there were twenty select committees each with fifteen members. Their composition were in accordance the representation of the parties and of the independents in the Senate. The law lords did not sit on any committee, though the bishops did. The committees shadowed government departments, except for the Treasury. Their chairs reflected party representation. After the March 1961 elections, the Conservatives and Liberals each chaired six committees, Socialist Labour five, and Independents one, as follows:
Conservative: Agriculture, Defence, Education, Home, Northern Ireland [Ulster Unionist], Transport, Works.
Liberal: Foreign, Housing and Local Government, Overseas Development, Pensions and National Insurance, Post Office, Trade, Wales.
Socialist Labour: Commonwealth Relations, Health, Labour, Power, Scotland.
Independents: Colonies.
Among the Independent Life Senators were men and women with distinguished careers outside politics, such as former ambassadors, high commissioners, colonial governors, senior commanders in the armed forces and university vice chancellors.
[1] See the last paragraph of post #226 on page 12.