1968 UK General Election

[Dr. Cynic]

Election 1964 ended with a massive uptick in Labour seats, 450 seats and a huge majority for Jim Callaghan to govern with. The Tories dumped Rab Butler in 1966 in favor of Edward Heath while Jo Grimond pointed to another increase in Liberal seats and remained on as leader.

The Callaghan government, under the popular slogan "Jim'll fix it" began real work and could easily pass whatever legislation they wanted. However, trade figures in 1966 were very poor and forced Callaghan to reshuffle his cabinet and appoint Home Secretary Roy Jenkins Chancellor. The Callaghan government also engaged in social policy liberalization, over the objections of the Tories and the more conservative Labour members who could not support things such as abortion and legal homosexuality.

The straw that broke the government though was over Europe. Callaghan introduced legislation which would take Britain into the community. Oddly enough, Edward Heath, now Conservative leader, endorsed the plan to enter the EEC. Opposing the EEC were a collection of Labour left wingers led by Tony Benn, Michael Foot and others in tandem with very right wing Tories such as Enoch Powell and Margaret Thatcher. In the end, the bill to apply for EEC membership passed easily, but once again, France blocked British entry in a humiliating personal defeat for Callaghan. Feeling as though he'd been stung all through 1967-early '68, Callaghan called a general election. Also looming in the background was President Lyndon Johnson's attempts to pressure Britain to enter Vietnam. Callaghan personally opposed British entry, but offered the U.S. technical support, which drew heavy protest from anti-war demonstrators.

In light of all of this, does Callaghan deserve another term? Heath and the Tories are looking good while Grimond and the Liberals are now contesting 400 seats. Who has your vote?

[Donerail]

Grimond and the Liberals! Anti-war vote maybe?

[Supersonic]

Conservative, urgh, Heath is atrocious though.

[Dr. Cynic]

Grimond and the Liberals! Anti-war vote maybe?

The Liberals are indeed the most anti-war party, though Labour has deep strains of being anti-war as well.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

There was never a serious anti-Vietnam War movement in Britain (and the war had no impact on domestic politics whatsoever) because - as in this timeline - Britain was never involved in more than a vague cheerleading capacity.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Conservative, urgh, Heath is atrocious though.

[Dr. Cynic]

There was never a serious anti-Vietnam War movement in Britain (and the war had no impact on domestic politics whatsoever) because - as in this timeline - Britain was never involved in more than a vague cheerleading capacity.

I never thought it did, but I just wanted to shift the balance a little after the last election landslide.

[H. Ross Peron]

Heath and the Tories this time. BTW pretty sure Thatcher wasn't Europhobic enough to oppose entry into EEC...

[Leftbehind]

[DC Al Fine]

Can we get an Enoch Powell led 4th party?

[Goldwater]

Tories.

[Dr. Cynic]

Heath and the Tories this time. BTW pretty sure Thatcher wasn't Europhobic enough to oppose entry into EEC...

No, she wasn't really a Europhobe at all, but I think her opposition is based on the calculation that it's better to fight the corner that most of Labour and the "wets" aren't. Things aren't going to be exactly as they were historically.

Also, I don't know if I'm going to have a Powell breakaway party. I might not even have a Labour breakaway depending on how the future goes.

[H. Ross Peron]

Heath and the Tories this time. BTW pretty sure Thatcher wasn't Europhobic enough to oppose entry into EEC...

No, she wasn't really a Europhobe at all, but I think her opposition is based on the calculation that it's better to fight the corner that most of Labour and the "wets" aren't. Things aren't going to be exactly as they were historically.

Also, I don't know if I'm going to have a Powell breakaway party. I might not even have a Labour breakaway depending on how the future goes.

Thanks for the clarification. Would be interesting to see how this setting develops...

[RogueBeaver]

Conservative, urgh, Heath is atrocious though.

[Dr. Cynic]

Heath and the Tories this time. BTW pretty sure Thatcher wasn't Europhobic enough to oppose entry into EEC...

No, she wasn't really a Europhobe at all, but I think her opposition is based on the calculation that it's better to fight the corner that most of Labour and the "wets" aren't. Things aren't going to be exactly as they were historically.

Also, I don't know if I'm going to have a Powell breakaway party. I might not even have a Labour breakaway depending on how the future goes.

Thanks for the clarification. Would be interesting to see how this setting develops...

No problem. With butterflies, historical circumstances do change and Thatcher's motivations will have to remain hers for the time being.

[Dr. Cynic]

So far, the seat count is:

Conservative: 331
Labour: 278
Liberal: 18
Others: 23

[Dr. Cynic]

Hung Parliament. Better get some more votes in.

[TDAS04]

Labour, I guess. 

[Dr. Cynic]

Updated count:

Labour: 349
Conservative: 259
Liberal: 20
Others: 22

Now to do my best Bob McKenzie\Peter Snow impersonation:

According to the swingometer, we're now projecting that Labour will have a majority government of 48 seats. Not a huge majority, but certainly enough to make it through a full parliament. Still a good amount of time to go here on election night.

[Dr. Cynic]

One more hour till this closes. Get your late vote in.

[Leftbehind]

Far too close for comfort.

[afleitch]

'After seven successive victories and the nuclear bombing of Yorkshire, Labour PM Dave McHitler proposes a tax on oxygen and breast milk. Will the nation re-elect Labour again?

Forum Votes

Labour 15
Conservative 12
Lib Dem 5.'

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Is there any anti-entry vote?

[Supersonic]

Hung Parliament hopefully.

Is there any anti-entry vote?

Not really.

[Dr. Cynic]

Polls are closed... Here's the final count:

Labour: 330
Conservative: 287
Liberal: 17
Others: 16