Interesting, I could see the Liberals being fond of that, mainly as a way to avoid having to Nationalise everything, though I could see this idea clashing hard with the Fabians.
Yeah, that'd be an interesting conundrum. I wonder if it could end up scattering the Fabians across the aisle if the liberal left end up more cooperative than state socialist.
I could see that, I could see the ILP dividing between the Syndicalist camps and the Guild Socialist/Market Socialist campaigns with both working to socialise the economy. Probably be more practical than the whole complete Nationalisation business.
I could see a more Marxist left extirpating the ghost of Lassalean socialism, yes. Considering the ILP would be out of government more often than in, I can't see them being in love with nationalization. I think with radical industrial unions in tow, syndicalism would be favoured over market socialism though. That's probably more something for the left fringe of the liberals or a cooperative party? But of course that wing of the liberals could be people the ILP has to deal with to form a government.
It'd be interesting if the two out of three parties style of government comes with split etiquette, say, national liberal + tory or socialist liberal + ILP governments, before merging back in as the needs to prop up a government fade.
Yeah, could see that as the line. The only problem is some members of the ILP weren’t fond of the Irish because of there roots as labourers competing with Irish Immigrants. Though they seem like the types to join whatever Henry Hyndman eventually concocts as he starts blathering on about ‘National Socialism’ and all that.
I could see the more orthodox members hounding them out at they get accused to be red Tories. Though that could also be interesting, a disastrous Red Tory government with backing from more anti immigrant defectors from the ILP could be what kills them off in the end?
With more divided parties and all that I could see the creation of alternative voting in time if the Liberals get to stay around longer and Coalitions being the norm in time. With the Liberals aligning with Left Wing Parties usually whilst the Conservatives align with Nationalist elements more. I could see the third (usually Left Wing) party spheres being divided between the ILP, Cooperative Party, some form of Nationalist Imperialist Party and probably the Communist British Socialist Party.
1900s is early enough to radically alter the development of the international left so I'm not sure the ILP will have to contend with a 3rd internationale aligned communist party. The ILP is probably too radical for the decaying second internationale anyway, and I could see them taking a hard anti imperialist slaughter line during alt-WW1 (assuming that's inevitable in some form) while a national government of Tories and Liberals prosecute it. While Nationalist Imperialist Party could just be the extreme wing of the red Tories.
Though alternative voting would alter things drastically and probably blow up the three parties system. Maybe that could be something to spice things up later on? The ILP probably doesn't need it originally, since far left areas would be concentrated around workplaces with radical unions enough to win FPTP seats originally. Could be something they agree to support a liberal government over once the dispersal of the left hits them.
What form would it take? Ranked choice seem too modern? Maybe two rounds voting in the French way? Or compensated PR in the German style? Potentially regional full PR is an option too. Or multi member constituencies like modern Ireland does?