PM David Owen

Owen leaves the Labour Party
Owen co-founds the SDP
SDP a spent force
Owen joins the Conservative Party
Blair wins General Election, reasonable majority but no landslide
John Major resigns
Owen Conservative leader
[Tory revitalisation]
Conservatives win General Election, tiny majority
Owen PM

(I've deliberately avoided dates - but if Owen becomes PM in May 2001 he'd be just under 63)
 
Basically present a scenario where David Owen could become the Prime Minister

Extra points if the UK keeps the Falklands

Briefly: No changes until 1985, when the IRA bomb in Brighton kills Mrs Thatcher. A general election is called within a few months, which the Tories under Kenneth Baker win with a large majority, partly as a reaction to the Brighton horror. The Labour Party does better than 1982, but not by much, and the SDP/Liberal Alliance does far better in terms of votes than they do in otl in 1987. By 1990, the Conservatives are pretty unpopular, with the Poll Tax causing problems. A general election in early 1991 produces a hung parliament with the Tories the largest party, but without an overall majority. The Alliance, now led by David Owen, has 30 seats. The Tories try to tempt them into a coalition, at first without success; it is only when the Tories make the supreme sacrifice and concede the Premiership to Dr Owen that the Alliance agrees to join them.
 
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