We're Alright!

WE’RE ALRIGHT

An Alternate History
By
Alfie J Steer​


Chapter One
Rallies and Soapboxes

(Taken from “The Black Year: The Two Elections of 1992” By Andrew Marr, Random House 2003)


“…The 1992 General Elections is considered one of the most exciting and dramatic in British political history. It was an election of spin, sensationalism and scandal, of huge political rallies and small soapbox campaigns. It was the final showdown between Labour and Conservatives when the results were truly in doubt. It was an election that saw the death throes of Thatcherism, the fall of Neil Kinnock and the rebirth of the Liberals.

The Conservative Party entered the first election in April 1992 with uncertainty but confidence. They had held government since 1979 and their new leader John Major really gave the party hope for a fourth unprecedented electoral victory.

Labour, led by Neil Kinnock had undergone huge modernization since his election as leader in 1983 and despite losing the previous election in 1987, was confident of a slim Labour majority this time around. This was seen as his last chance, the Labour campaign became air tight, and no gaffes were allowed.

The April election was the Liberal Democrats first as a united party since merging between the Liberals and SDP. Its leader Paddy Ashdown was already in dire straits following a disappointing number of opinion polls and by-election results. He was determined to raise their support as a major force in Parliament and not an irrelevant third party.

Then, on the evening of 1st April 1992, the Labour Party held a huge American style rally in Sheffield Arena. The huge crowd cheered and applauded the “government in waiting” as they took to the stage, led by Neil Kinnock, who chose to be relaxed but reserved to ensure he didn’t slip up. He greeted the crowd and delivered his “Vision for Britain” speech, a speech considered a turning point in the election as opinion polls increased in Labour’s favour…”


(Taken from “The Decline and Fall of Thatcherism” By Tim Bale, Harper Collins 1999)

“…As the people of Britain entered the polling stations on 9th April 1992 there was a huge sense of uncertainty of just what the result would be. Labour were confident of a slim majority, the Conservatives hoped for at least a hung parliament, the Liberal Democrats hoped for an increase of seats, ones which would put them on the centre stage of British politics and Paddy Ashdown as a possible Prime Minister.

After one of the longest election nights in history without a clear forecast, the election results came through. It was greeted by surprise and despair, disbelief and overwhelming joy. It was one of the first election nights when victory parties were held for both the Tories and Labour, despite uncertainty still hanging in the air. On the morning of April 10th the results became clear.

The results of the April 1992 General Election were:

Conservative*: 314 (-61)
Labour: 290 (+61)
Liberal Democrat: 23 (+1)
Ulster Unionist: 9 (NC)
SDLP: 4 (+1)
Plaid Cyrmu: 4 (+1)
Democratic Unionist: 3 (NC)
SNP: 3 (NC)
Ulster Popular Unionist: 1 (NC)

*Conservative short by 12 seats of an overall majority…”


(Taken from “My Life” By Neil Kinnock, Penguin books 2012)

“…The election was a huge shock and disappointment for me. I couldn’t believe it, Major had held onto first place. We have made huge gains but not remotely enough to even be the largest party for a minority or coalition. I began talks with Paddy Ashdown but we both knew it was hopeless; the Tories would form a minority government with support from the UUP. I was gutted, not only for me but for the people that had voted and relied on us. I had failed as leader and would be pay the price for it.

As the deal between the UUP and Tories was struck and Major formed his new government, I tendered my resignation as leader of the Labour Party. I knew the government wouldn’t last long, but I knew that I wouldn’t either. I had led the party for nine years, through two general election defeats. I was tired and had had enough. I believed John could go all the way.

I was right…”


(Taken from “The Short History of Major’s Minority Government” By Peter Hennessy, Random House 2003)

“…The Tories had just survived the election and formed a minority government, with support from the Ulster Unionists. John Major was relieved but concerned about what the future held. It seemed almost certain that another election would have to be held by the end of the year. It was just a question of if they could hold on in the polls, and whether Labour was ready to take them on.

By June that year the first Labour leadership election since Tony Benn’s challenge in 1988 was about to begin…”
 
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Definitely interested to see how this will develop.

No way will Major last to 97 but he might be able to squeak on into 94 if he is very lucky. Rory Bremner will have to start using his "And I would like to thank my friends in Northern Ireland" bit at the end of his impersonations that much earlier ITTL:D

I wonder if the likes of Emma Nicholson and Alan Howarth will jump ship to the lib dems and labour earlier....
 
The results of the April 1992 General Election were:

Conservative*: 314 (-61)
Labour: 290 (+61)
Liberal Democrat: 23 (+1)
Ulster Unionist: 9 (NC)
SDLP: 4 (+1)
Plaid Cyrmu: 4 (+1)
Democratic Unionist: 3 (NC)
SNP: 3 (NC)
Ulster Popular Unionist: 1 (NC)

*Conservative short by 12 seats of an overall majority…”

I know it's sunday and not yet Hockey O'Clock, but my reading of this makes it seem that 3 extra seats have been created?
 
Chapter Two
Leadership and Confidence

(Taken from “My Life” By Neil Kinnock, Penguin Books 2012)


“…Roy became a leader in interim after I stepped down. He was planning on going too but I convinced him to hang on a little longer to ensure that he was handing over a still united party to whoever the new leader would be. Within a few weeks the Leadership election was called and set, we wanted it to be as quick as possible so we would be ready for when the government called a second election. Margaret announced he standing first, then John, Brian and Robin a week later.

The campaign was short and sweet. It seemed from the off it was John’s for the taking, though there was some raised eyebrows when the young “modernizers” like Jack and Tony began voicing support for Robin. Gordon stayed loyal to John, as did the majority of the modernizers.

John Smith was elected leader in June. He got in with a comfortable 52%, not a landslide but a comfortable result with Robin coming a strong second. He was disappointed but I knew his time would come, at some point at least.

As soon as taking office John began rebuilding the party from the ground up. He began plans to introduce OMOV (One Member One Vote) put an end to the Trade Union block vote and finally managed to scrap Clause IV from the Labour manifesto. He wooed the Nationalist parties with plans for Regional Parliaments and greater powers to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as an independent English Parliament. Promises that helped him pull off the miracle vote that November.

He savaged John Major at PMQs and connected with the public as relaxed and confident, the great statesman figure of politics. He was laid back but still determined and hungry for power. He surrounded his cabinet with young up and coming politicians, such as making Gordon Chancellor and Tony Home Secretary.

Everything was in place and ready, the party was modernized, electable and picking up in the polls. Some say the events that followed in September that year practically handed him the keys to No.10 Downing Street…”


(Taken from “John Smith: Prime Minister 1992 – 1997” By Gordon Brown, Random House 2006)

“…The collapse of the pound sterling and the subsequent government pull out of the ERM was a huge victory for us. John came to life in PMQs attacking John Major at every waking moment over his handling over the crisis. He described him as a “devalued Prime Minister in a devalued government”. After a few weeks the Conservatives plunged in the polls, the Eurosceptic right became increasingly problematic with Major, completely undermining his leadership as Thatcher and Tebbit criticized his handling of the crisis.

By October the government’s worries intensified. IRA violence increased, five people were killed following an explosion outside Downing Street, killing four police and a personal adviser to the then Chancellor Norman Lamont, David Cameron. There were huge protests against the governments knew British Steel and Mining cuts. John and I were together in rallies and marches listening to the people and giving them our plan for Britain.

We were riding high in the polls and were confident of a strong victory in the next election. I just didn’t realize just how soon it would be…”


(Taken from “The Short History of Major’s Minority Government” By Peter Hennessy, Random House 2003)

“…John Smith’s decision to call a vote of no confidence against the government is one which took nearly the whole political world by surprise. Despite the plunge in Conservative support and the already small government size it seemed that Smith simply didn’t have the numbers to challenge them.

The recent unpopular policies and rise in support for John Smith’s new modernization of the Labour Party had won round many minor parties into giving them support, such as the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. The recent infighting between the left and right of the Conservative party had also sparked a possible likelihood of dissent against the government, especially when four MPs defected from the party, three to the Lib Dems and one to Labour.

As the days led up to the vote many called on Smith to hold back till the next year. But he would have none of it; he was more than confident that those he needed would play their part. He later told Jeremy Paxman in a 2001 interview that that vote of confidence was “the biggest risk of my career”.

And so, on a dark, quiet evening in November 1992. The House of Commons voted:

Ayes: 324 (Lab, Lib Dem, SNP, SDLP, Plaid)
Noes: 319 (Con, UUP)
Abstentions: 4 (DUP, UPUP)

Smith had won by just five votes, Parliament was dissolved and a election was called. The rest as they say, is history…”
 
So John Smith will be the first Labour prime minister in thirteen years, but only for five years. Will he be replaced by another Labourite, or a Tory?
 
I read the title and at first thought it would be a 1992 Kinnock win. But I suppose those are ten a penny round here.

Subscribed anyway!
 
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