TLIAD: Thatcherism Stillborn

[Techdread]

No sooner had Vince Cable become Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, that a vote of no confidence was put forward. No-one expected the government to win the vote and so none were surprised when they did lose. Hague asked for permission to dissolve parliament and the second general election in a year would begin. The policies from the Conservatives were nearly-identical as they had been before, whilst Labour appeared to mould its own policies to match – rather than becoming closer to the United States, Cable proposed a more Eurocentric military organisation; ‘a European NATO’, as he would later refer to it. Despite frightening many within his own party, closer relations with Europe seemed to appeal to many voters as well as many within the Liberal Party and their traditional voters.

The final results were little different than they had been a year before; Labour had been able to gain more seats at the expense of both the Conservatives and the Liberals, but still lacked an overall majority. The agreement that Brown had confirmed prior leaving office came into play, as Cable and Hughes agreed to form a new Lib-Lab Coalition government.

2002
Subsequent Prime Minister: Vince Cable
Government: Labour-Liberal Coalition​

 

[Techdread]

Hague had never truly won an election; 2001 was not a true victory as it wasn’t assured and didn’t last a year in government. Instead, he’d lost two in a very short space of time and was not expected to win another. Rather than face the indignity of being voted out in a leadership crisis, he took the high road and left office of his own accord before any whispers of a coup could begin. The party had confidence in Hague, but there were some circles that felt he didn’t represent the best interests of the Conservative Party. The same names as before soon showed themselves to rise to the title they believed best suited them: Kenneth Clarke, Michael Portillo and Iain Duncan Smith.

Portillo campaigned on continuing the policies his predecessor and Michael Heseltine had begun, whilst Duncan Smith talked about necessary changes with the way government operated in terms of economic control and implementation of welfare reform. Clarke, on the other hand, seemed to take on the economic stand-point of Heseltine whilst calling for closer relations with Europe, even going so far as to praise Cable’s proposal for a ‘European NATO’. Keen to eliminate the possible insurrection of a Eurosceptic schism, Clarke declared that to accept the status quo would be to accept American and Eurasian hegemony over Europe.

Duncan Smith would fall at the first hurdle; numerous failures in his campaign’s early days never allowed him to gain a lead, whilst Portillo was able to capitalise on the coalition’s decision to re-nationalise the basic amenities companies that had been privatised under Hague by calling for less state authoritarianism from Labour and more compassion for the ordinary man trying to make a business for himself. The results on the ballot went against what most people had placed their money on.

2002 Conservative Party Leadership Election Results
First Ballot
Kenneth Clarke – 53.8%
Michael Portillo – 37.5%
Iain Duncan Smith – 8.7%​

 

[Techdread]

The time in Opposition for the Conservatives under Clarke was often a fragile state – their leader would often only disagree with the Prime Minister and Government on minor details concerning their foreign policy, grumble at his economic decisions despite its progress, and remain sternly silent on such issues as the welfare and healthcare reform. The party had become united under Clarke, though it was a unity through its hatred and displeasure with the Leader rather than admiration.

The Coalition, on the other hand, proved to be truly united in its social and economic progressivism under Cable and Hughes. Foreign policy was more dictated by Labour rather than the Liberals, but it was often a decision both sides would agree to. Referred to as ‘The Golden Coalition’ by the press, it seemed that a Lib-Lab Pact had been forged anew that could eliminate the possibility of a Conservative government for decades.

Whilst on the verge of announcing a new general election in 2006, the Prime Minister was caught on referring to the Liberal Education Minister, Nick Clegg, as ‘a treacherous little weasel’. This was believed to be in reference to his decision to allow the private sector to have more links within schools to allow students the prospect of later joining affiliated businesses. Cable had called the decision ‘something Michael Heseltine would have been proud to call his own’. Clegg was thought by many in the Liberal inner circle to be Hughes' heir apparent, and the Prime Minister’s refusal to comment on the remark seemed to certify its authenticity. The coalition split in May, and a month later parliament was dissolved for the general election.

Labour had a lead in the polls prior to the split, and the Liberal Party looked set to make large gains at the Conservatives’ expense. The schism, dubbed ‘Weasel-gate’ by the press, saw Labour begin to slump in opinion polls whilst the Liberals and Conservatives began to rise. It was expected that a hung parliament would appear, though the likelihood of a second Lib-Lab Coalition seemed bleak with the party’s current relations. Only a week before the election though, a number of the Liberal Party’s right-wing defected to the Conservatives following a leak that, according to Hughes, the faction’s leader, Tim Farron, would be ‘as unlikely to become anything more than a footnote in history’. This sudden split would change the outcome of the election completely. Once the final results had come in, if the Farronites had remained part of the Liberals it would have been possible for the party to become kingmakers once more. However, history went in another direction, seeing the Conservatives back in office.

2006
Subsequent Prime Minister: Kenneth Clarke
Government: Conservative Majority​

 

[Techdread]

Only after the dust of the election had settled, did the knives begin to be drawn out by all parties. Cable was now seen as both a great reformer but an incapable politician due to his failure to see not only a Labour majority but also a renewed Lib-Lab Pact, whilst Hughes was seen to be equally incapable of keeping his own party together. Within a month of the election, both would be gone and they would not be alone. Despite winning the election, many know it was only because of the Liberal’s failure rather than Clarke’s competence that the party had won. The incapable leader, as the Conservatives, Liberals and Labour saw him, would be gone from office only three weeks after Cable and Hughes.

The first victim of the ‘Bloody Spring’ would be none other than the former Prime Minister, Vince Cable. Deposed and broken, he would continue to fight through his leadership election with as much vigour and energy as he had. His rivals were swift to arise: Charles Kennedy; Shadow Home Secretary, Ed Balls; Shadow Industry Minister, David Milliband; Shadow Foreign Secretary, and, of course, Tony Blair. A later entry into the nominations was Peter Mandelson; Opposition Chief Whip.

The election was long-standing and hard-fought. Cable was capable of holding through to the third ballot, but declined to continue after seeing it was almost hopeless that he should remain as Party leader. Both he and Kennedy, following their individual failures on the ballot, would place their support behind Mandelson, viewed by many as the most capable as a leader and a social liberal whilst fiscally moderate within the Labour Party. Eventually, with only Balls, Milliband and Mandelson left on the ballot, Milliband would concede; his support for Mandelson finished the election with a clear majority winner.

2006 Labour Party Leadership Election Results
First Ballot
David Milliband – 23.3%
Ed Balls – 21.7%
Charles Kennedy – 17.9%
Peter Mandelson – 15.6%
Vince Cable – 14.8%
Tony Blair – 6.7%​

Second Ballot
David Milliband – 24.7%
Ed Balls – 21.9%
Peter Mandelson – 20.8%
Vince Cable – 17.4%
Charles Kennedy – 15.2%​

Third Ballot
David Milliband – 32.3%
Peter Mandelson – 30.7%
Ed Balls – 26.5%
Vince Cable – 10.5%​

Fourth Ballot
Peter Mandelson – 41.7%
David Milliband – 35.3%
Ed Balls – 23.0%​

Fifth Ballot
Peter Mandelson – 73.9%
Ed Balls – 26.9%​

 

[The Red]

Not much to add really, other than this might be the first TLIAD to ever be completed within a day.

 

[Techdread]

Hughes' failure was far less crowded than the Labour race was, but equally dramatic. Like Cable, Hughes declined to resign from his position as party leader and so was faced with an opponent that he’d help to create and held a great popularity within the party – Nick Clegg.

The Liberals had recognised the need for change and felt that a younger, fresher face might be able to appeal to younger voters and create a different image compared with the older statesmen in both of the main parties. A relatively bloodless affair, Hughes would retire from politics after his loss.

2006 Liberal Party Leadership Election Results
First Ballot
Nick Clegg – 85.6%
Simon Hughes – 14.4%​

 

[The Red]

Wait, Peter Shore was Liberal leader?

 

[Techdread]

Wait, Peter Shore was Liberal leader?

Corrected - I'm clearly not awake properly yet.

 

[Meadow]

Not much to add really, other than this might be the first TLIAD to ever be completed within a day.

Ahem. The first one was completed in 24 hours.

Oh God. Vince Cable, leader of Labour.

Please read before you post:

With a POD of 1981, Brown is probably a very different man - particularly if he's a close ally of a Michael Foot-raised Robin Cook. I imagine the glory days are still underway. Blair himself was described in an earlier update as being from the soft-left of the party.

You're taking us down familiar but different routes, and I'm enjoying it. Keep it up.

 

[Techdread]

Clarke was pleased to see his opponents in Labour and the Liberals had fallen down following his successful election. Although he could admire and appreciate their work, he knew it would be a new time for him and his party. What he hadn’t considered was that the work to be done following their winning the election would not be done by Kenneth Clarke. As several key components within the party were prepared for their coup, unwelcome news was being broadcast across the world; the Prime Minister Kenneth Clarke had suffered a fatal heart-attack. The nation went into mourning for a Prime Minister it hardly had a chance to know. Deputy Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith became Acting Prime Minister in the meantime until the leadership election that had been plotted could get underway.

An older name resurfaced, but the candidates were mostly filled with newer names: Michael Portillo; Chancellor, David Cameron; Health Secretary, Theresa May; Education Secretary, and George Osbourne; Industry Secretary. Tim Farron was thought to be a possible contender until he was persuaded against such action, being told he’d be unlikely to gather traditional Conservative support in light of party-switching nature. Whilst Portillo was the old guard returning, Cameron appeared to be the face of a new Conservative Party that could appeal to younger voters and social moderates, May was the traditional yet modernised Tory, and Osbourne was the businessman’s best friend. The final decision came down to the best compromise of the four.

2006 Conservative Party Leadership Election Results
First Ballot
Theresa May – 56.4%
David Cameron – 27.6%
Michael Portillo – 15.6%
George Osbourne – 0.4%​

 

[Meadow]

Poor Ken

 

[The Red]

Ahem. The first one was completed in 24 hours.

Yeah but I'm talking about the ones that sold out by going mainstream, man.

 

[Techdread]

Both of the main parties had found their direction; the Conservatives had become a modernised force for social conservatism, pro-business fiscally and a foreign policy that promoted an independent course of both the US, Eurasia and Europe; Labour, on the other hand, had become a truly democratic socialist party whilst pursuing warmer relations with Europe to lead an alternative to President Bush’s United States or President Medvedev’s Eurasia but remaining a powerbroker on the world stage. Both were also under the auspices of ruthless and powerful leaders, each capable of gaining anything they desired should they so wish. By the time Prime Minister May had called for a new general election, it seemed that the tide was turning against her.

The economy had taken a poor turn into partial recession, made worse by the economic policies of her own party before her time in office. Europe had begun to form a wall against the outside world as it attempted to aid the failing Balkan Federation from falling into genocide and separatist wars whilst American and Eurasia had their attention focussed on uprising across the Middle East, reigniting the old Cold War rivalry in the process.

Neither party leader considered the Liberals under Nick Clegg to be of any real threat; both agreed in May’s statement calling him ‘a childish fool’. By the time of the election, the Liberal Party had sunk to its lowest point in generations; it would be unlikely to have the glory days of Ashdown and Hughes kingmaker roles in the coming elections. Pledging to reignite the economy, drive British industry into the modern age and make its place on the world stage once more, Labour won by a comfortable majority.

Fractures within the party had been initially felt following Mandelson’s election as leader, with the Left threatening to leave and form its own party. According to some sources, the Labour Party leader told them to remember how that turned out the last time someone left Labour.

2011
Subsequent Prime Minister: Peter Mandelson
Government: Labour Majority

Fin​

 

[Maponus]

Lol at Tony Blair soldiering on.

 

[Techdread]

Well, that brings my first TLIAD to an end. Thanks for all of the support throughout it, and let me know what you all thought of it.

 

[Meadow]

Well, that brings my first TLIAD to an end. Thanks for all of the support throughout it, and let me know what you all thought of it.

Really enjoyed it, thank you for making the effort to make a tight, self-contained story. If you'd like some constructive criticism, my main point would be that there weren't really any unlikely faces in the leadership races, let alone winning them. With a POD of 1981, Clegg and Cameron in particular might very well avoid politics altogether - and a lot of the younger Labour/SDP-became-Lib-Dem figures you used got into politics/parliament because of Thatcher and Thatcherism. Ditto people like Osborne, who were drawn to it by her legacy and domination of their youth.

That's all I'd say, really. With a POD like a lengthy Foot government, I was expecting more than OTL's Home Secretary, a big beast of the Blair years and the current leader of the Liberal Democrats to be the party leaders 30 years later.

In terms of writing style, however, this was witty and self-aware. You tell a good story.

 

[Techdread]

Really enjoyed it, thank you for making the effort to make a tight, self-contained story. If you'd like some constructive criticism, my main point would be that there weren't really any unlikely faces in the leadership races, let alone winning them. With a POD of 1981, Clegg and Cameron in particular might very well avoid politics altogether - and a lot of the younger Labour/SDP-became-Lib-Dem figures you used got into politics/parliament because of Thatcher and Thatcherism. Ditto people like Osborne, who were drawn to it by her legacy and domination of their youth.

That's all I'd say, really. With a POD like a lengthy Foot government, I was expecting more than OTL's Home Secretary, a big beast of the Blair years and the current leader of the Liberal Democrats to be the party leaders 30 years later.

In terms of writing style, however, this was witty and self-aware. You tell a good story.

Thank you very much You're quite right about the choice of figures that I've brought into the main focus; I suppose that a part of it is because I'd not done a great deal of research into possible contenders. That being said, in my initial plans for TTL, I had Andy Burnham as Labour leader rather than Mandelson coming into power.

I'll probably come back to this idea again one day after doing some thorough research and it'll probably take a completely different direction than the one I've done here.

 

[Turquoise Blue]

1979: Margaret Thatcher (Con majority)
1981: Michael Foot (Lab majority)
1985: Michael Foot (Lab majority)
1989: Michael Foot (Lab majority)
1991: Robin Cook (Lab majority)
1993: Michael Heseltine (Con-Lib coalition)
1997: Michael Heseltine (Con majority)
2000: William Hague (Con majority)
2002: Vince Cable (Lab-Lib coalition)
2006: Kenneth Clarke (Con majority)
2006: Iain Duncan-Smith (Con majority)
2006: Theresa May (Con majority)
2011: Peter Mandelson (Lab majority)

 

[Techdread]

An alternative ending​

Only after the dust of the election had settled, did the knives begin to be drawn out by all parties. Cable was now seen as both a great reformer but an incapable politician due to his failure to see not only a Labour majority but also a renewed Lib-Lab Pact, whilst Hughes was seen to be equally incapable of keeping his own party together. Within a month of the election, both would be gone and they would not be alone. Despite winning the election, many know it was only because of the Liberal’s failure rather than Clarke’s competence that the party had won. The incapable leader, as the Conservatives, Liberals and Labour saw him, would be gone from office only three weeks after Cable and Hughes.

The first victim of the ‘Bloody Spring’ would be none other than the former Prime Minister, Vince Cable. Deposed and broken, he would continue to fight through his leadership election with as much vigour and energy as he had. His rivals were swift to arise from across the Labour Party’s spectrum: Dennis Skinner; Shadow Industry Secretary, Charles Kennedy; Shadow Home Secretary, Daniel Finkelstein; Shadow Education Secretary, Bryan Gould; Shadow Chancellor, and, of course, Tony Blair.

The campaign would be long and arduous – Cable would use every bit of influence that he could retain to try and remain party leader. His damning last term as Prime Minister would make that impossible though; after failing at the second ballot, Cable would turn his support to his Shadow Chancellor, Bryan Gould, in the hopes of moderation winning over the remaining Leftist, Dennis Skinner. The party, however, was split between the moderates of Gould and Finkelstein, allowing Skinner to edge on to victory. In his acceptance speech, he would go on to say that he would make the party something for the working man to be proud of before asking both Gould and Finkelstein to be part of his Shadow Cabinet.

2006 Labour Party Leadership Election Results
First Ballot
Daniel Finkelstein – 23.3%
Dennis Skinner – 21.7%
Charles Kennedy – 17.9%
Bryan Gould – 15.6%
Vince Cable – 14.8%
Tony Blair – 6.7%​

Second Ballot
Daniel Finkelstein – 24.7%
Dennis Skinner – 21.9%
Bryan Gould – 20.8%
Vince Cable – 17.4%
Charles Kennedy – 15.2%​

Third Ballot
Dennis Skinner – 32.3%
Bryan Gould – 30.7%
Daniel Finkelstein – 26.5%
Vince Cable – 10.5%​

Fourth Ballot
Dennis Skinner – 51.7%
Bryan Gould –25.3%
Daniel Finkelstein – 23.0%​

 

[Techdread]

Many within the Liberal Party felt that Hughes was dead in the water – he could no longer guarantee a definitive victory and they had lost any possible place in government due to ‘Weasel-gate’. Some felt that it was indeed time for change, and change had to come from the top. Although several members from the right-wing of the party had left, that was not to suggest that only the left-wing remained. Alan Beith, a vocal voice within the right and longstanding critic of the leftist Labour government, called for a leadership election by nominating himself.

Whilst Hughes could still garner to the left-wing, he was uncertain of how badly the break-up of the party had damaged his internal reputation and influence. The contest was over in the first ballot; although not a total victory for Beith, the party had seen fit to have him replace Hughes and find new hope in pastures new.

2006 Liberal Party Leadership Election Results
First Ballot
Alan Beith – 54.6%
Simon Hughes – 45.4%​