Prime Minister arrested

There was supposedly a very real suspicion amongst the security services that Harald Wilson was working for the Soviets. Personally I think it's very unlikely, though some of his cabinet I'm less sure about.

Let's for the moment imagine it was true.

It's Easter 1965 and following the arrest of a British agent of the KGB, in the hope of getting a lighter sentance the agent names those who he had at one time recruited. One of those names is Harald Wilson. Now obviously the police (and others who don't officially exist) would be sceptical but the would have to (carefully) investigate the allegations. The investigators over the next few weeks turn up more and more evidence until in late August they have enough that had it been anyone else they would have been arrested. Due to it being the P.M. the option of contacting the Home Secretary is not feasible. The whole cabinet is potentially compromised. With no other option the Queen has to be informed.

She with such advice as is available then calls Wilson to the palace and as is at least in theory her right dismisses him, following which he is arrested. Now I know that in all likely hood it is much more likely he would be told she accepts the resignation he hasn't given yet and he would then spend the next few years being debriefed, and the public would never know but if he had been arrested and charged what would happen after the news broke?
 

The PM defecting will lead to feelings of betrayal, shock and horror.
In this case the PM has been removed in what amounts to a judicial coup, the political left and trade unions are going to go.berserk. Strikes, rallies ect are pretty much a given. The government is going to have to face a vote of no confidence and may well fall. Evan if the government survives it will be very limited in what they can do because the government is compromised by Wilsons actions.
 

Pangur

Donor
Would the reaction not depend on how the situation is handled - if the state puts all its cards on the table aka the evidence even if some of the evidence would normally be covered by the offical secrets act then thats got to calm things down a bit?
 
Would the reaction not depend on how the situation is handled - if the state puts all its cards on the table aka the evidence even if some of the evidence would normally be covered by the offical secrets act then thats got to calm things down a bit?

They can only do that at the trial and even if they push things to get an early trial date thats going to be months away. The best the government can hope fore is that when Wilson appears before the magistrates to be either bailed (unlikely) or placed on remand he pleads guilty.
 

Pangur

Donor
They can only do that at the trial and even if they push things to get an early trial date thats going to be months away. The best the government can hope fore is that when Wilson appears before the magistrates to be either bailed (unlikely) or placed on remand he pleads guilty.

Thats how it goes right enough. Damn they are well in the brown smelly stuff
 
The PM defecting will lead to feelings of betrayal, shock and horror.
In this case the PM has been removed in what amounts to a judicial coup, the political left and trade unions are going to go.berserk. Strikes, rallies ect are pretty much a given. The government is going to have to face a vote of no confidence and may well fall. Evan if the government survives it will be very limited in what they can do because the government is compromised by Wilsons actions.

Yea I linked less because it's a direct parallel than because it's a similar conceit with a different PoD. Also because it's one of the best-written TLs on the forum.
 
Most likely, Mr Wilson would be encouraged to retire after having a "stroke" so he could be put somewhere quiet and debriefed shortly before he succumbs following a long illness.

Putting him on trial would be a problem as the UK's relationship with the US and other NATO allies would cause significant problems. No one would be willing to share intelligence with the UK for decades as there is likely to be a belief that if the PM was compromised then it is likely the intelligence services would be too, no one (not even MI5 or MI6) could be sure that there wasn't a sleeper or two in the civil service or security services. Any Labour government would be viewed with suspicion for a considerable period afterwards internationally. Of course even if the UK keeps it quiet there would be nothing to stop the Russians from awarding Comrade Wilson a posthumous Order of Lenin which might make everything much, much worse.
 
I think the Security Service after discussing it with the Queen would kill him.

This getting public is just too damaging to the country.
 
I should think he would be interviewed, and after spilling any beans, he resigns. Other government types, over a number of months, do the same. Early election, Labour may just hold on, most likely the Tories win.
 

James G

Gone Fishin'
I think the Security Service after discussing it with the Queen would kill him.

This getting public is just too damaging to the country.

Eh...?
MI-5 inform the Queen that Harold Wilson is suspected to be a Soviet spy and she gives her consent to his death... this is what you mean, yes? No trial and just the monarch's say-so and it is off with his head.
That is not how the UK works, I am sorry to say.
 
I think we can safely say there would be a vote of no confidence in Parliament which depending on how many Labour MPs abstain rather than support the compromised government may well pass. The following three weeks of electioneering would be brutal but the Conservatives would most likely win, it would be at least a generation before Labour had a chance of forming a government again.

Due to the need to appear committed to opposing communisim the defence cuts of the 60s and early 70s are I think unlikely, you may even see some British forces in Vietnam alongside the Australians and New Zealanders. (As it is I've heard rumors).

I can't see the UK getting into the E.E.C.

There are going to be some very political strikes.

M.I.5 and the Special Branch are going to be given what amounts to a blank check to root out subversive elements. The House Un American activities comity will seem tame as every political and national figure even slightly left of center is investigated and the trade unions will soon find themselves on a very short leash.

There could well be problems getting Polaris. I could easily see Congress blocking the deal.
 
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