WI the United Kingdom incorporated Newfoundland in 1949 instead of admitting it to Canada

Just like it says on the tin, what if instead of transferring the Former Dominion to Canada following its decline, the United Kingdom incorporates the country into itself?
 
They're not very populated so not a lot I imagine. Probably a few in Newfoundland itself and 1 for the whole of Labrador. Less in total than Northern Ireland
I would guess 7. Ironically, the OTL Canadian parliamentary riding map might get duplicated IOTL, serving as the map of UK parliamentary constituencies in the country.
 
I would guess 7. Ironically, the OTL Canadian parliamentary riding map might get duplicated IOTL, serving as the map of UK parliamentary constituencies in the country.

That seems likely, surely the same reasons Canada has for those would apply to the UK. Any ideas what the effects on history might be
 
That seems likely, surely the same reasons Canada has for those would apply to the UK. Any ideas what the effects on history might be
The Canadian Liberals lose some safe seats; the UK Liberals/Lib Dems gain some. Fishing might also be affected; will be interesting to see the influence the cod fishery collapse affects UK politics. The UK Tories might bungle things, angering locals in the process.
 
Why would the UK do this? "The British government, keen to cut expenditure after World War II, hoped that Newfoundland would decide to join the Canadian Confederation and end the rule by commission.[4] Newfoundland first asked Canada for help in a return to responsible government, however. The response from the Canadian government was that it was not interested in helping Newfoundland economically unless Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation.[4]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_referendums,_1948

I don't get the logic of the UK saying in effect, "Opinion in Newfoundland is divided between those favoring a return to responsible government and those favoring confederation with Canada. So we'll instead do something that very few of them want--annexation by the UK--in order that we get a part of the UK across the Atlantic which doesn't want to join us and which will be a money-loser for us."
 
Why would the UK do this? "The British government, keen to cut expenditure after World War II, hoped that Newfoundland would decide to join the Canadian Confederation and end the rule by commission.[4] Newfoundland first asked Canada for help in a return to responsible government, however. The response from the Canadian government was that it was not interested in helping Newfoundland economically unless Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation.[4]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_referendums,_1948

I don't get the logic of the UK saying in effect, "Opinion in Newfoundland is divided between those favoring a return to responsible government and those favoring confederation with Canada. So we'll instead do something that very few of them want--annexation by the UK--in order that we get a part of the UK across the Atlantic which doesn't want to join us and which will be a money-loser for us."

Actually many in Newfoundland preferred British Rule over the idea of Confederation and if the option was given to join the UK, it is likely they would have picked it. Many is Newfoundland and Labrador also think than the referendum was rigged.
 
Actually many in Newfoundland preferred British Rule over the idea of Confederation and if the option was given to join the UK, it is likely they would have picked it. Many is Newfoundland and Labrador also think than the referendum was rigged.

Many people opposed the idea of Confederation but that was not the same thing as favoring annexation by the UK. (Some even wanted close ties with the US, an option that was not on the ballot.) In any event, such annexation was simply not something the UK wanted--it would just be a financial burden the British government would hardly desire while it itself was in a state of austerity. (Not to mention the precedent set for annexation of other overseas colonies and their representation in Parliament.)
 
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Jack1971

Banned
What happens to Labrador?

If we can get a POD so that Newfoundland’s offshore oil is discovered earlier, then the territory should be self sufficient.
 
Presumably the country’s name would have to change if it was directly incorporated; “the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Newfoundland”?
 
Probably the same amount as when Newfoundland entered Confederation IOTL.
is it realistic in-universe for the Tories to deal with the cod fishery collapse in a way that completely alienates them from the locals and leads to the Lib Dems sweeping all of the Newfoundland (and Labrador?) constituencies in 1997?
 
is it realistic in-universe for the Tories to deal with the cod fishery collapse in a way that completely alienates them from the locals and leads to the Lib Dems sweeping all of the Newfoundland (and Labrador?) constituencies in 1997?

I don't know how British fishery regulations operate, but if there's a way to screw Newfoundland even under a Labour Government early on (probably reducing the quotas to more realistic levels in the '50s, for example), someone will take it.
 
On the constituencies question: the number of registered electors in Newfoundland at the time of the election was around 177,000. The average number of electors in UK constituencies at the 1950 election was 55,000, so you're looking at three seats (four if the UK is generous and goes for a lower quota, as they would later do when Wales and Scotland got devolved parliaments).

However, I would question whether those seats necessarily go to the British Liberals, as that party was then at a nadir and the Liberal brand was disputed with the Liberal Nationals, who had more seats but were joined at the hip with the Tories. More likely the Newfoundland Liberals (then essentially the same as the NL Confederate Association) would win the seats and remain independent of the other Liberal factions, basing their campaigns around rejecting the referendum result and joining Canada. A bit like a transatlantic SNP.
 
How would indigenous groups like the Innu and Inuit react to this?

At this point in the game, for the most part the Eskimos (as the latter were called around this time) and Indians (as the former were lumped with in those times) were simply ignored; their protests won't be heard until around the 1970s, around the same time as the James Bay hydro dispute in Quebec and the rise of the American Indian Movement in the US. So for the most part except for charities like the International Grenfell Association since they were routinely ignored by politicians in the Colonial Building I doubt that Whitehall would be all that enthused. Until their issues were brought to their attention ex post facto.
 
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