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This is something that has been explored in other WIs but there are a few particular questions I have about it. Let's say Heath is returned in February 1974 with a ten seat cushion, something large enough to allow the Tories to govern for a while but not enough to make massive changes. What happens?

Would Heath's mandate make a difference when dealing with the unions? Would his government fare any better than Labour through the various crises between 1974-79? And if not, is there the possibility of him ending up being ousted by someone from the right of the party, as happened in opposition?

What happens to Labour? Callaghan seems to be the obvious successor to Wilson, but I wonder if he would want it at his age if it meant leading the party in opposition for five years. Jenkins is probably ruled out by the fiasco over Europe, and Foot, whilst a possibility, seems less likely given that he didn't have ministerial experience at this stage, and the left was weaker than it was in 1980 without a lot of moderates losing their seats in 1979. That leaves Healy, if Callaghan doesn't go for it. Would we see something similar to what happened in the run up to 1983 take place, with reform of the leadership elections, the Bennites, and a more left wing platform? Or could be the party be held together well enough for them to beat the Tories at the next election? And would the party stick with the European referendum policy?

Finally, with all three parties likely to be discredited in some way in this scenario, (provided the whole Thorpe affair happens) is there scope for a more successful fourth party challenge? Maybe from the National Front, or Ecology, or something more moderate like one of the small centrist Labour breakaways gaining traction? Obviously I wouldn't expect them to win seats, but I wonder if they could at least get above 2% or so nationally.
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