WI? Whitelaw

Imagine this:

1975 Willie Whitelaw becomes Tory Leader after Ted Heath resigns. In an attempt to re-solidify the tories after the traumas of 1974 he creates a shadow cabinet of all wings of the party:

Shadow Chancellor-Margaret Thatcher
Shadow Foreign Secretary-Geoffrey Howe
Shadow Home Secretary-Michael Heseltine

Shadow Leader of the Commons-Robert Carr
Shadow Lords Leader and Tory Chairman-Lord Carrington
Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary-Keith Joseph

Shadow Defence Secretary-Airey Neave
Shadow NI Secretary-Francis Pym
Shadow Education Secretary-John Nott

Whitelaw sheds his image as a "duffer" and re-energises the tories but in a far less strident mode than Thatcher did in the OTL.
 
I don't see anything significant changing before 1978 or so, if not later.

I believe 'Willie' might command more personal popularity than 'Maggie' did as leader of the opposition. I guess their's a chance that with this in mind, Callaghan might want to go to the country in October 78, to placate this while Lab are still ahead (sort of) in the poles. On balance though I imagine Whitelaw as Conservative leader makes Sunny Jim more cortious and therefore he waits like OTL.

Wasn't the Shadow Cabenet against (or at least not fully behind) Thatcher no-confidencing the government? I'm not so sure Whitelaw takes the same action, which means Callaghan could hang on until October.

Anyway, Whitelaw probably leads the Tories to a simelar victory to the OTL iquivelant.

I imagine that since Thatcher is at no. 11, Thatcherism of some form will be practiced, though whether it's as radical I'm not sure.

I don't think Whitelaw will be as unpopular as Thatcher was in 1980/1, but I don't think he'd be as popular as Thatcher was in 1983 either. For starters, the Falklands are less likely to remain quiet in this TL, though as long as Whitelaw/Thatcher don't screw up, the economy will win the election for the Tories in 1983, all be it with a reduced majority compared to OTL (I see a Macmillan-esc win, partly due to the Labour split, particularly if Foot is still elected leader).


I think Whitelaw would be happy to step down in 1984/5. Not sure who his successor will be. Thatcher may well be seen as the "air apparent", her credencials will be enhanced all the more if she's creddited with turning the economy around at the Exchecka. Still, she's a marmight figure, so it's no guaranty and their's a possibility for the Tories to opt for a safer option, though no idea who that would be.

From there, it's guesswork.
 
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