Musical Chairs: A 70's TL

March 1974: Ted Heath (Con-Lib Coalition)

Against the odds. Heath and Thorpe were able to forge an alliance. Thorpe became Deputy PM and NI Secretary. One of the major points of contention was Stormont. The NI assembly was persuaded by Westminster to shelve the council of Ireland plans for the forseeable future.

Industrial strife was still widespread and Heath needing a night off went for a meal at a London restaurant. At 9.23 PM a car screeched to a halt outside the Restaurant and a machine gun was fired into the customers. 7 people were killed included Heath.
 
April 1974: Jeremy Thorpe (Con-Lib Coaltion)

Thorpe's brief time as acting PM was marked by leading the tributes to Heath. The IRA claimed responsibility for the shootings as a response for the Council Of Ireland being postponed.

Thorpe in a brave move travels to Ulster and addresses Stormont. He appeals to all sides for peace and restraint. Although some right wing assembly members criticise Thorpe for "disrespecting Storming by being a mere deputy", his plea is well received.
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
1-Heath would have been succeeded by his Deputy in the Party, not by Thorpe, unless this was made clear in the Coalition talks.
2-The coalition would need more than just the Liberals, as 297+14 does not give the needed 318. Unless the Liberals surging at the last moment and picking up several more seats, mainly from Labour, is the PoD.
3-Why would Thorpe be offered/accept the position of NI Secretary, a position that is the cabinet equivalent of being Reassigned to Antarctica, when he would have been made Lord President of the Council?
4-What about the electoral reforms that scuppered the Heath-Thorpe talks IoTL?
 
In this TL I've made heath a bit sharper. He knows/knew that there wouldn't be enough seats to form a government so he tries to mollify the unionists in the hope they may join the government later or support them in important motions i.e. reforms

With Thorpe as Deputy PM and Ulster Secretary, Thorpe is a combined lightning conductor/intermediary.
 
June 1974: William Whitelaw (Con-Lib Coalition)

Whiitelaw was seen as regarded as the "Elastoplast Prime Minister". His first address to the Commons as Prime Minister was regarded as one of the most sensitive and affecting speeches in the chamber. He said that the UK faced the biggest threat since the war and that this was not a time for strife and unrest.

He led talks with the unions and agreed a "National Wage Structure" where wages would rise automatically every year for three years by 4% and that if oil was found in the UK then both oil and coal would be paid equally.

 
November 1974: Denis Healey (Labour Majority)

The coalition was on perpetually rocky ground. Despite the industrial settlement there were still parliamentary challenges. Labour and the Unionist parties wore the government down night after night. The secret life of Thorpe was also coming into public view. The "Bunnies" letter * was printed in the Times. Thorpe resigned as Liberal Leader and Deputy PM. This led David Steel as acting leader to inform Whitelaw that they could no longer support the government.

Whitelaw called a snap election asking the electorate to "choose your future"

During the coalition Labour under Healey portrayed themselves as the "only opposition" (which miffed some Unionists). He was able to appeal to both Labour and disaffected Liberals and secured a 6 seat majority.

*-http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/99798/The-downfall-of-Jeremy-Thorpe
 
Top