WI: Anthony Eden dies in May 1955

I'm just a humble Yank, but thanks to reading a bit many Politbrit vignettes I've been thinking about ideas for different 1950s PMs and wondering how the Conservative dominance of the decade could be changed. For a POD: What happens if the often ill Anthony Eden gets a bad case of the William Henry Harrisons and dies almost immediately after becoming Prime Minister?

Which Conservative is likely to come to the fore in such a badly timed power vacuum - Rab Butler, Harold Macmillian, Lord Kilmuir or someone else? Is the sudden switch of leader likely to harm Conservative chances in the 1955 general election? (Correct me if I'm wrong but having been called by Eden is it still going to occur?) And of course is a different Prime Minister going to handle the Suez Crisis better or worse than Anthony Eden?
 

RyanF

Banned
I'd be inclined to say Butler, Macmillan really got in after Suez because of the speech he made to the Magic Circle.

Making such a speech after the death of a leader would probably be seen in bad taste. The need for a leader right away would also preclude anyone from throwing their hat in the ring that you may see in a long campaign.
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
So how is Butler likely to do against Attlee in 1955?

He's got the sympathy vote locked down, and Attlee was only hanging on as a 'screw you' to Herbert Morrison, so pretty good.

The question is how he would function against Gaitskell or Bevan in opposition.
 
Is the Magic Circle being at best lukewarm towards Butler going to lead to a leadership revolt? (Especially if Suez plays into his problematic image in foreign policy?)
 
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