We're Alright - An Alternate History: Part VII
VII
THE NEW MAN
The First Months of the John Smith’s Premiership
“The work was horrendous for John; I suppose that is what really killed him”
- Neil Kinnock in a 2012 interview
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The appointment of John Smith as Labour Leader and Prime Minister (essentially due to no challenges from anyone in the Party), was a shock to anyone. In just four months there had been three different Prime Ministers and still there was chaos, albeit at the stage of calming. Smith had begun a huge movement of reform, finally giving a fresh start for Labour, much to the dismay of the 14 rebels.
Immediately the 14 rebels were suspended of their whip and isolated to the backbenches. Modernizers called for them to be completely expelled, but Smith knew if someone like Benn, a radical and controversial but widely influential figure was kicked out of the party, he knew others would follow him and a complete schism would be certain. For now they would just have to put up with him.
In the first three months things were going well, Labour were beginning to come back to life after weeks of flat-lining at the bottom of the polls. The economy was finally seeing recovery, despite the events of Black Wednesday, the program had been a success and the initial panicked attack on Labour had calmed and more critical thinking had begun in the public over just who was to blame.
But still there was uncertainty. The left was speaking up, and speaking loudly.
The militants were gaining support again and those 14 rebels were gaining allies, it had become an elephant in the room. All was not well in the Labour Party.
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Over in the Conservative Party, Heseltine was still in trouble. The vote of confidence had done what it set out to do. Yet it sacked a Prime Minister, not a government. The Tory backbenchers still questioned whether Heseltine could lead the Conservative party to victory.
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Meanwhile in America, President H.W. Bush won a second term by the tiniest of margins, a huge embarrassment for the Labour Government following their endorsement of Clinton. It seemed that Black Wednesday was having profound effects on the rest of the world.
TO BE CONTINUED...