WI: No Blair-Brown Pact

He'd lose, but it would be interesting to see if Prescott still stands as the 'token' union candidate.

Brown would run on economic experience and on being a younger modernizing Smith. Blair would run a pretty ruthless campaign backed by the majority of the Shadow Cabinet and PLP. Blair from 1994 to 2001 was a campaigning beast and Brown would have struggled.

He'd still make Brown chancellor or Foreign Sec out of 'unity' but this would be the best for the party as it would mean that Brown wouldn't get free rein over policy, or expect his turn of the leadership. Most likely Blair sacks him either in 2001 or 2003
 
He'd still make Brown chancellor or Foreign Sec out of 'unity' but this would be the best for the party as it would mean that Brown wouldn't get free rein over policy, or expect his turn of the leadership. Most likely Blair sacks him either in 2001 or 2003

Brown always had his loyal cadre. I'm not sure how feasible sacking a 'shut out' Brown would be without risking full blown civil war within the Party. Less influence means he is outside the inner circle making him the obvious alternative. Regardless of various Blairite-Brownite squabbles it was always clear Brown was heir to the New Labour project, not the alternative. Here it might very well be different even if its only perception.

A defeat in 1994 (Blair is winning if no POD before Granita) would wound him but he's too big a beast to vanish as a threat.
 
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