UK PM Edward du Cann?

If he decides to run instead of Thatcher in '75, does he still beat Heath? If so, what will his premiership look like?
 
Well he seems terminally incompetent, so even if he had the right ideas and though I like his position on the EU I suspect he wouldn't have been a great or successful PM.
 
I'm sure butterflies can prevent that, or at least mitigate it. He wasn't personally responsible for a bank failure. So, let's butterfly said bank failure and he decides to stand. Advantage is that he's better known than Thatcher and Hugh Fraser's candidacy is butterflied, dunno about Howe's. As 1922 Chairman he's a very familiar face to backbenchers, probably a mentor to a few freshmen/sophomores as well. Certainly he'd have better PMQs than Thatcher did against both Wilson and Callaghan (or with butterflies, potentially Foot).
 
I'm sure butterflies can prevent that, or at least mitigate it. He wasn't personally responsible for a bank failure. So, let's butterfly said bank failure and he decides to stand. Advantage is that he's better known than Thatcher and Hugh Fraser's candidacy is butterflied, dunno about Howe's. As 1922 Chairman he's a very familiar face to backbenchers, probably a mentor to a few freshmen/sophomores as well. Certainly he'd have better PMQs than Thatcher did against both Wilson and Callaghan (or with butterflies, potentially Foot).

But du Cann was famous for failing to pay dues and money owed in OTL even before his debt problems. If du Cann stands, I reckon that Thatcher and Howe don't--he was one of the principal forces that persuaded Heath to call the ballot in the first place, so he probably has the opening on the first ballot, and then the momentum on the second.

The trouble is, the Tories are then going into a '78/'79 election with an unreconstructed aristocratic leader who keeps failing to pay moneys owed (which will probably be brought up often by Labour MPs). In '78 the Tories lose, no question--in '79 it might be closer, but the Winter of Discontent is probably enough for any Tory to win by then. Short of something miraculous tho', I can't see du Cann's premiership being anything of a success....

EDIT: Also, hi--I'm new. Ummm..... please be gentle?
 
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OK then: 2 butterflies. First no bank failure, second someone convinces him to PAY THE BLOODY BILLS. Strictly speaking, I'm curious about how far he would go as opposed to Thatcher as PM. Potentially backstabbing Howe in '81 when the wets start squealing.
 
OK then: 2 butterflies. First no bank failure, second someone convinces him to PAY THE BLOODY BILLS. Strictly speaking, I'm curious about how far he would go as opposed to Thatcher as PM. Potentially backstabbing Howe in '81 when the wets start squealing.

Well he was accused of gross incompetence over the bank and has had three of four business go bust under him and his habit of not paying bills seems to be pretty major part of his character. To fix all that you have a completely different person.
 
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