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The 1997 General Election is known mostly for the utter collapse of the Conservative vote which once had towered over the Labour vote during the 80s and early 90s. Many debate the full reason for this, was it Tony Blair's New Labour and acceptance of Thatcherism, perhaps it was Thatcherism itself that harmed the Conservative brand, or it's 'abandonment' under John Major, some say that Black Wednesday was what had destroyed the view of the Conservatives being harsh but competent, others say that it is a mixture of all these ideas.

But what many do not know is that there was another very interesting outcome from the 1997 election, a particular party had gained over eight hundred thousand votes in the general election and came fourth in terms of the popular vote on its first election, even with another party with somewhat similar aims also running in the same seats. That party was the Referendum Party, founded by Anglo-French billionaire James Goldsmith, the father of current MP, Zac Goldsmith and Jemina Khan, friend of Alan Clark and Princess Diana and a victim of pancreatic cancer.

The principle of the party was simple, Britain's relationship with the European Union was rapidly changing from what it was originally meant to be and the British people deserved to be asked permission to continue marching into this new European federal state before anything could continue. It found support from Eurosceptics and Europhiles both who believed that the a referendum on the issue may solve the damage it was doing to British politics, and some may have been hoping that their side would win, and five million videos with celebrity were sent across the country to rally support for the cause.

However, as some were discussing taking the party into a more coherent direction or escalating efforts, James Goldsmith tragically passed away in the same year of his success and the Referendum Party soon fell apart with some going back to the Conservatives, others went to the less successful UKIP which soon grew with these new members while others formed the Referendum Movement and later in the 21st century would the organisation People's Pledge be formed.

The effect the Referendum Party had on the Conservative's seat total is debatable, some say around thirty seats were lost due to this party while others say none were, due to a lack of campaigning on Goldsmith's part due to pancreatic cancer. However, one must ask themselves, what if the pancreatic cancer was simply a cancer scare for James Goldsmith, what if he was able to survive and lead the Referendum Party, what if the Referendum Party survived? Some would presume that the UKIP support would instead go to the Referendum Party, that it would be a safer bet and would be seen as more "sound" due to a German-descended Anglo-French businessman running the party instead.

For an ultimate question, it all could be so different.....

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