WI: John Smith Doesn't Have a Heart Attack?

Stolengood

Banned
Forgive me if someone's done this before, but... :)

Labour leader John Smith was head of the party, and was widely predicted to gain the premiership before his sudden death from a heart attack in May 1994. If doctors had caught it earlier, or if it even hadn't happened at all... what might've happened?

I leave it to you. ;)
 
Labour victory in 1997 with a slightly smaller landslide, Smith has a very successful term. The government would probably be to the left of Brown and Blair's though a little to the right of Kinnock's Shadow Cabinet. He would probably bring in the same kind of reforms but hesitant of giving the markets a huge amount of un-regulation. Probably increases ties with Europe. Maybe even joining the euro.

Depending whether or not you want his health to be completely fine, he could carry on for eight or ten years before being defeated or resigning. Otherwise he could possibly have resigned by 2002 due to his health and then be replaced by Brown most likely.

Or a very interesting leadership election.
 
He wouldn't have joined the Euro as there would have been enough opposition to it in Labour nevermind the country and despite his personal Pro-Europeanism Smith was too good a politician to take on a battle he couldn't win.
 

GarethC

Donor
What would Smith have done after 9/11?

Would he have been as enthusiastic an ally to Bush over Iraq?

Would Mandelson and/or Campbell have had as much influence as OTL?
 
I suspect that in 97 lib dems would have done a bit better and have had better relations with Labour.

I assum there would be no backingfor the GW Bush's criminal invasion of Iraq from Labour or anyone much in Britain
 
My thinking is that the Tories were doomed after "Black Wednesday" there was no way back after that. Unless Smith makes a utter mess of the election campaign, which I don't think he would, he would have won with a majority of around 90-100 seats. It would be a win similar to Wilson's win in 1966.
Such a win means the Tories would not be in such a poor electoral position in fighting the 2001/02 election, also it is very dobutfull that a majority of this kind, although large would have forced out Michael Portillo in Enfield, and he would almost certainly become Tory leader post the 1997 election.
Smith I think would be workmanlike in office, he was honest if a bit boring the "bank manager" look was always spot on I think.
I guess you are looking at the 1997 election with these sort of seats number:
Labour: around 370-380
Conservative: around 210-225
Lib Dem: around 30-40
 
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Slightly hijacking the thread, but I've always thought a better question would be what if Margaret Beckett stayed on as Labour leader after Smith's death instead of Blair becoming leader?
 
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