If Britain's parliamentary system had somehow faltered and Britain had been a right-wing ultra-nationalistic military dictatorship for a good few decades of the Twentieth Century before undergoing a Portugese style Carnation Revolution, how would Britain be different today?
My Opinion
Obviously, the Country's constitution would have to be rewritten from scratch after the revolution. I therefore see Britain's electoral system being one of proportional representation, like in Germany. And of course, the new constitution would not provide for a House of Lords. In short, any 'hangovers' from earlier days would be absent in the country's post-dictatorship political system.
If, like in Italy, Britain's dictatorship had been supported, or at least tolerated by the reigning Monarch, I see the Monarchy being abolished after the revolution. The country would thus be a Parliamentary Republic.
Of course, the circumstances of the rise and fall of such a Dictatorship would be important. If it happens due to a military coup during the People's Budget/House of Lords/Irish Home Rule crisis and manages to survive the First World War, Irish Independence would no doubt be delayed, and probably take place as soon as the Dictatorship is overthrown. If however, the Dictatorship rules much later, perhaps during a similar time frame to Franco, Decolonisation would no doubt be delayed and may well be its downfall. Thus the revolution may well coincide with Irish and/ or Colonial Independence
In my opinion, Britain would be very different. The post-revolution government would most likely be left wing and would probably more radical than any OTL Labour government. Perhaps they would be bold and do away with institutions that are seen as elitist and reactionary, such as the Private schools, perhaps.
Most the British People's view of themselves would be very different. We would no longer see ourselves as a nation immune to authoritarianism and be not as proud of our history and in my opinion be much more pro-European.
My Opinion
Obviously, the Country's constitution would have to be rewritten from scratch after the revolution. I therefore see Britain's electoral system being one of proportional representation, like in Germany. And of course, the new constitution would not provide for a House of Lords. In short, any 'hangovers' from earlier days would be absent in the country's post-dictatorship political system.
If, like in Italy, Britain's dictatorship had been supported, or at least tolerated by the reigning Monarch, I see the Monarchy being abolished after the revolution. The country would thus be a Parliamentary Republic.
Of course, the circumstances of the rise and fall of such a Dictatorship would be important. If it happens due to a military coup during the People's Budget/House of Lords/Irish Home Rule crisis and manages to survive the First World War, Irish Independence would no doubt be delayed, and probably take place as soon as the Dictatorship is overthrown. If however, the Dictatorship rules much later, perhaps during a similar time frame to Franco, Decolonisation would no doubt be delayed and may well be its downfall. Thus the revolution may well coincide with Irish and/ or Colonial Independence
In my opinion, Britain would be very different. The post-revolution government would most likely be left wing and would probably more radical than any OTL Labour government. Perhaps they would be bold and do away with institutions that are seen as elitist and reactionary, such as the Private schools, perhaps.
Most the British People's view of themselves would be very different. We would no longer see ourselves as a nation immune to authoritarianism and be not as proud of our history and in my opinion be much more pro-European.
