Social Democracy Ascendant

POD:1971 The Conservatives win the vote for the UK to enter the EEC. Roy Jenkins and Shirley Williams resigns the labour whip along with 24 other Labour MP's and forms the Social Democracy Council (SDC).

Between 1971 and 1974 the SDC portrays itself as a democratic, centrist party who are pro-europe and anti-socialist.

The February 1974 election sees the SDC solidify their position and gives them the balance of power.

Jenkins hold talks with Heath and Wilson. Jenkins key demand for support is over Europe. Wilson says he wants a referendum. Heath says there is no point in a referendum as the commons has already decided.

Jenkins manages to persuade the vast majority of the SDC to go into government with the Tories despite 3 MP's voting against.

So in March 1974 the Conservative/SDC coalition government takes power with a majority of just 5 seats.

Edward Heath:prime Minister
Lord Carrington Leader of the Lords


Roy Jenkins: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary
Shirley Williams :Home Secretary
 
This will be very very bad news for Labour and the Tories, I think-the latter party will certainly not enjoy as much success in the 80's as OTL.

Will look forward to reading more!
 
This will be very very bad news for Labour and the Tories, I think-the latter party will certainly not enjoy as much success in the 80's as OTL.

Will look forward to reading more!

Thanks. I hope that I don't fall into the trap that I have with my previous threads. They start well enough but rapidly spin into ASB territory.
 
The Sun Newspaper 3rd March 1974
Our history has proven time after time that in moments of crisis people are capable of putting aside what differences that they have and work together for the greater good.

This has happened again with the creation of the new government. The fact that Roy Jenkins and the SDC have felt able to work with what would in other circumstances be political enemies shows that the Dunkirk spirit is alive and well.

The new enemies are quite different but no less potent. Right and left wing extremists, trade union thugs and economic weakness prove to be as big a threat to our way of life as the Nazis were between 1939 and 1945.

Back then Churchill joined forces with Attlee and provided a huge unified front and prevailed.

Ted Heath has read his history and saw that another alliance was needed. The road ahead is fraught and there are many challenges and dangers ahead.

But The Sun feels that this new political openness is the right way ahead and we give our wholehearted support to the government
 
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