Vox Populi - 1985 Conservative Leadership Election

[Lumine]

October 1985 - Eighteen years of Powellism come to an end

Feeling satisfied with his achievements after seven years in Downing Street and feeling old at 73 Prime Minister Enoch Powell announced his resignation a few weeks before the Conservative Party conference of October 1985, intending to hand over to a new generation of Conservatives to continue his work. His long reign over the party had been most if not all of his old rivals or allies gone from Parliament or from relevance. Some had been killed or had died, like Du Cann and Macleod, others retired, like Rippon, Neave or Joseph, and others whose time had already gone by, like Thatcher, Heath or Whitelaw.

On the other hand, the newer generation inside the party had been slow on its ascent, and therefore many of its most relevant players (Baker, Heseltine, King, Clark and Hurd) were too junior to be considered main contenders to become Prime Minister. Powell himself had no clear heir to his brand of the party, leading Powellism to split as both Geoffrey Howe and Norman Tebbit launched their own campaigns for the party leadership. With the Tory left weakened and Jim Prior choosing not to stand, Francis Pym put himself forward to represent the One-Nation rebel faction of the party. And finally, adding a bit more uncertainty to the contest, Environment Secretary Tom King announced and unexpected bid of his own.

Having reformed the Conservative leadership election rules in the 1970's, MP's would now vote for the leader:

The Candidates:

Francis Pym: A critic of sorts to Powellism, Defence Secretary Francis Pym is the standard bearer of the moderate and pro-Europe One Nation Tories (and he enjoys the unofficial support of the Tory-left), arguing for a change in style and in some policies from Powellism into a more centrist, moderate stance. Seen as sensible and efficient, Pym defends repairing the relationship with the US and retaking an internationalist approach in foreign policy, while arguing for a more moderate economic policy (particularly opposing large spending cuts). Pym is also the most pro-European candidate, but has ruled out entry into Europe without a referendum.

Geoffrey Howe: One of the two main Powellites in the race, Chancellor Geoffrey Howe runs on his successful economic record, while wishing to present a more conciliatory approach to Powellism and its most divisive policies. Mild mannered but determined, Howe defends a strict monetarist approach (fully standing up for privatization and deregulation), while at the same time seeking more engagement with the US and increased economic ties to Europe, and standing up for Powell's record on social issues (defending his most liberal stances).

Norman Tebbit: Tough and uncompromising, Home Secretary Norman Tebbit is the other main Powellite in the race, seen as the more hardline candidate. Responsible from the harsh campaign against the IRA, Tebbit runs a staunch Powellite platform of free market economics, anti-Europe and isolationist views, social conservative stances on social policy (in contrast to Powell himself) and a tough on terrorism, crime and immigration stance. He has also been highly critical of Pym and Howe, seen both as too moderate to carry on with Powell's vision for Britain.

Tom King: Closing off the list is Environment Secretary Tom King, the darkhorse in the race. Mocked by the new and popular show Spitting Image as "the invisible man", King is seen as both a cypher and a "safe pair of hands" of sorts, taking on a moderate Powellism line in the belief that he could unite the party against the more divisive Howe, Pym and Tebbit. However, King has also emphasized his strong unionist views and his anti-Europe stance to bolster his credentials with the Powellite MP's.

Two days, if no one has a majority we move into the final ballot.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Howe.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

The party must unite around Tebbit!

[Maxwell]

Is Labor retaining Healey?

[MAINEiac4434]

Pym.

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Tebbit

[Kingpoleon]

Pym, though I considered Howe because the latter may defeat Tebbit more easily.

[Lumine]

Is Labor retaining Healey?

I was struggling a bit with that one. Given his gains in 82' I think Healey would have won the right to carry onto the next GE, but on the other hand he'd be 70 years old.

Still, he was a member of the Shadow Cabinet since 87' and an MP until 92' in our timeline, so he'll be fighting his last election in the next GE.