McMillan leads tories in 1964 election

Suppose harold McMillan had both better treatment (so he was in less pain) and medical advice so that had a better idea of his prognosis in the Autumn of 1964.

Had he been tory leader would it have been enough to change the rather close result of the 1964 election.


Home was notably seen as a out of touch as I understand it
 
MacMillian would have lost by a larger margin. While Private Eye ripped him to shreds Home managed to take a government in serious trouble after the Night of the Long Knives

“greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.”

which was brought on by economic troubles and the humiliation of Britain's rejection by the EU and lose by a whisker. Douglas-Home is seriously underrated imho.
 
You would have to butterfly the Profumo Affair that badly damaged Macmillan, so either Profumo keeps it zipped up or the story of his affair never breaks. Even then you still have to overcome the perception that the government was tired and it was time for a change.

Agree about Douglas-Hume, Wilson seriously underestimated him, the fact that the Tories came so close to a fourth term tells you how good a fight he made of it.
 
You would have to butterfly the Profumo Affair that badly damaged Macmillan, so either Profumo keeps it zipped up or the story of his affair never breaks. Even then you still have to overcome the perception that the government was tired and it was time for a change.

Agree about Douglas-Hume, Wilson seriously underestimated him, the fact that the Tories came so close to a fourth term tells you how good a fight he made of it.

I vaguely remember coming across a quote from Wilson, saying something to that affect-that he believed that someone like Mcmillan or Butler would have given him a lot less of a fight than Hone did. I can't remember for the life of me where I saw it though...

I don't think Mcmillan is a sure loser if he stays on, though imho it'd depend very much on why he stuck around.
 
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