WI: Someone more charismatic than Redwood runs against Major in June 1995?

Perhaps it’s the new-found relevance to contemporary events, but I find myself increasingly fascinated by those interminable dying years of the increasingly moribund post-Black Wednesday Major government. So what if a more charismatic “bastard”, say Portillo, ran against Major?

Of course, I’ve no doubt Major would still win, but possibly not so convincingly. What knock-on effects could this have had?
 
He would still lose the 1997 election. Old grey Major wouldn't look any older or more grey by having a tougher leadership election and would still be going up against the young and charismatic Tory Blair.
 
Perhaps it’s the new-found relevance to contemporary events, but I find myself increasingly fascinated by those interminable dying years of the increasingly moribund post-Black Wednesday Major government. So what if a more charismatic “bastard”, say Portillo, ran against Major?

Of course, I’ve no doubt Major would still win, but possibly not so convincingly. What knock-on effects could this have had?
Major might well 'win' the first ballot, but its worth noting that he had secretly set himself a target of 215 votes, otherwise he would resign. He was over 3 votes over that, so a different opponent (or even a few changes with Redwood still running) would get rid of him. I don't know that Portillo would have succeeded at winning in the next round, however. He was probably too right wing for most MPs, even if he hadn't wielded the knife against Major. Ken Clarke would stand a good chance. Both Portillo or Clarke would be more popular leaders, but both would probably be more disliked within their own party than Major was. So maybe they perform marginally better against Blair in 1997, but the Tories would still lose in a landslide.
 
Last edited:
Top