WI: Blair died, not Diana

This is a bit of a dark one but the idea struck me in the shower. What if it were Tony Blair who died in August 1997, instead of Princess Diana? Let's say the circumstances are basically the same: a car crash in the Alma tunnel, Blair rushed to hospital, dies at 3am. Nation wakes up to a dead prime minister at peak of his honeymood period.

Almost certainly, Gordon Brown would be the new PM, after a short leadership 'contest'. I don't see anyone else really having the balls to challenge Gordon at this stage. And Labour would use Blair's legacy to drive through the New Labour agenda without any real opposition, at least for a few years. But I'm not sure what the longer-term ramifications could be.
 
"the Prince of Darkness"

This is a bit of a dark one but the idea struck me in the shower. What if it were Tony Blair who died in August 1997, instead of Princess Diana? Let's say the circumstances are basically the same: a car crash in the Alma tunnel, Blair rushed to hospital, dies at 3am. Nation wakes up to a dead prime minister at peak of his honeymood period.

Almost certainly, Gordon Brown would be the new PM, after a short leadership 'contest'. I don't see anyone else really having the balls to challenge Gordon at this stage. And Labour would use Blair's legacy to drive through the New Labour agenda without any real opposition, at least for a few years. But I'm not sure what the longer-term ramifications could be.

What are the reasons for Blair being chased down the Alma Tunnel in August 1997?

With his Premier only lasting from 2 May 1997 to 31 August 1997, his legacy will only really be his death.

Can Gordon Brown drag the momentum of Blair's death along to the General election, 2001?
Who does Brown appoint as his replacement in the Exchequer?
- Peter "the Prince of Darkness" Mandelson?
- Maybe the first female chancellor? Margaret Beckett or Harriet Harman, both of who have served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Labour Cabinets?
- David Blunkett, Education and Employment Secretary, would show that even blind people or people from a poor family in one of Sheffield's most deprived districts, can achieve greatness?
- David Clark, Scottish Labour politican who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster?
-New Labour supporter and MP since 1979, Jack Straw, could be a choice for Gordon.
-Alistair Darling, doesn't have the same experience he did in 2007.

For no political, it would be nice to see Diana, still alive and able to live the rest of her life, with William and Harry, seeing them grow up.
 
More intresting question is would Brown go to Iraqi War with Bush (I suppose that this not change anything/much outside of UK).

About Diana I am not sure what her would happen. Perhaps marry Dodi al-Fayed.
 
Blair becomes the second shortest serving PM ever (at 121 days, beating George Canning's 119 by 2 days) and probably ends up with a JFK/RFK lore type legacy, a great young hope dead too early type of vibe

His legacy would be the landslide win and Labour's very early reforms, but again not much of substance so it would be more a opportunity missed style legacy.
 
I would have thought a major question would be the Northern Ireland Peace Process, if he's dead in the middle of the intense period of talks what happens? Both Blair and Bertie have always credited the relationship between them as being one of the major points, would Brown be able/willing to put the energy/skills into it? Would the same figures be involved?
 
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