WI: No Benjamin Disraeli

[Killer300]

How? Umm, someone slips on mud in France 10 minutes before he was born.

Anyway, point is, he's never born. So, with that in mind, does One Nation Conservatism ever come into existence? If not, does his whole dire prediction of, "Two Nations," in the UK come to pass? Additionally, is the Protectionist wing of the Conservative Party weakened in the United Kingdom?

I ask all this because I think it's an interesting POD to consider, even for those of us who know admittedly little about the country's history.

 

[Killer300]

No one had any thoughts on this? Come on guys, he can't be that obscure.

 

[pipisme]

How? Umm, someone slips on mud in France 10 minutes before he was born.

Anyway, point is, he's never born. So, with that in mind, does One Nation Conservatism ever come into existence? If not, does his whole dire prediction of, "Two Nations," in the UK come to pass? Additionally, is the Protectionist wing of the Conservative Party weakened in the United Kingdom?

I ask all this because I think it's an interesting POD to consider, even for those of us who know admittedly little about the country's history.

In the period 1846-1874 the Conservative Party was in office only three times in minority governments each of which was for no more than two and a half years. So they would have adopted 'One Nation' policies, though not called as such.

By 1850 Disraeli had accepted that 'Protection is not only dead but damned.' [1] The Earl of Derby would still have become Conservative Prime Minister in 1852, 1858 and 1866, and would not have restored Protection. In their hearts after 1846 most Conservatives were Protectionist but they knew that it would be political suicide.

As to who would have become Conservative leader and Prime Minister in February 1868, after the resignation of Derby, I would suggest Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy. Here is his entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33356.

[1] From a letter he wrote and quoted in his biography by Robert Blake.

 

[Killer300]

Wasn't he integral, however, to building One-Nation Conservatism?

 

[The Spitfire017]

Wasn't he integral, however, to building One-Nation Conservatism?

He was. He was integral in forming the modern conservative party, shaping the priorities of the Conservatives in this time and spreading their message, such as them claiming they were more interested in the working class than the Liberals were. Also mainly responsible for rise in Imperialism nationalism that spread like wildfire throughout Britain and the Empire.

If I remember correctly, something I read said he was the first British politician who saw that the masses weren't that interested in minor details of government during elections...people wanted to be excited. Good rhetorician.

If he never existed I think it would take a lot longer for the "modern" Conservative party to form. I don't know who would replace him. Also, the Suez Canal purchase was his doing too...I can see that being butterflied away.

 

[Killer300]

He was. He was integral in forming the modern conservative party, shaping the priorities of the Conservatives in this time and spreading their message, such as them claiming they were more interested in the working class than the Liberals were. Also mainly responsible for rise in Imperialism nationalism that spread like wildfire throughout Britain and the Empire.

If I remember correctly, something I read said he was the first British politician who saw that the masses weren't that interested in minor details of government during elections...people wanted to be excited. Good rhetorician.

If he never existed I think it would take a lot longer for the "modern" Conservative party to form. I don't know who would replace him. Also, the Suez Canal purchase was his doing too...I can see that being butterflied away.

Interesting, to say the least.

Question is, would the working class and the like turn to someone different too?

 

[Derek Jackson]

Does the Tory party still split in 1846? If so is the split as serious as otl?

 

[Killer300]

Does the Tory party still split in 1846? If so is the split as serious as otl?

I don't know? Hey, this is as much of a learning experience for as anything else.

 

[Charles James Fox]

It's probable that the Tory Party will spilt in 1846 without Disraeli, his speeches did weaken Peel but they were articulating an already irreconcilable chasm between Peel and the Protectionist backbenchers.

One Nation Conservatism OTL was an appropriation of Palmerston's policies, and of an older Whig paternalism during the 1830s and 1840s. Of course, Disraeli was a brillant agent and spokesman for this philosophy, but its presence in the Conservative party was not solely dependent upon his personality.

 

[Killer300]

It's probable that the Tory Party will spilt in 1846 without Disraeli, his speeches did weaken Peel but they were articulating an already irreconcilable chasm between Peel and the Protectionist backbenchers.

One Nation Conservatism OTL was an appropriation of Palmerston's policies, and of an older Whig paternalism during the 1830s and 1840s. Of course, Disraeli was a brillant agent and spokesman for this philosophy, but its presence in the Conservative party was not solely dependent upon his personality.

Did I just give the UK a three party system?