Beata Beatrix
Camille Paglia on Judge Dredd
- Location
- Mega-City Two
- Pronouns
- she/her/hers
I often think AH as a rule is more interested in dramatic rather than subtle points of divergence. The Carter administration looks, to my mind, hugely different if he wins more states and comes into office with an LBJ-sized landslide – as he would've had he won every state he lost only 5% of the vote. And so on.
Anyways, to the point. Wilson's majority in 1964 was, of course, quite small, necessitating the 1966 election and ultimately giving a few important protagonists of the government – Roy Jenkins – more starring roles, while giving people like Patrick Gordon-Walker much less important ones than they might have otherwise had. But I wonder what a Wilson government with a slightly different cast, given a more comfortable, more 'safe' political position, given a larger majority, looks like? With, at a guess, James Callaghan as Home Secretary, Anthony Crosland as Chancellor, and Patrick Gordon-Walker as Foreign Secretary, how radical are the '60s?
A Wilson in this position has to call the next general election in 1968 or 1969 – hardly the strongest moment for an incumbent in the West! If Heath's seat is seemingly rather precarious, does it fall to Maudling to lead the Conservatives in 1968? And if Labour loses, and Wilson is deposed, who comes next? Or if they win – who comes next?
Just some food for thought!
Anyways, to the point. Wilson's majority in 1964 was, of course, quite small, necessitating the 1966 election and ultimately giving a few important protagonists of the government – Roy Jenkins – more starring roles, while giving people like Patrick Gordon-Walker much less important ones than they might have otherwise had. But I wonder what a Wilson government with a slightly different cast, given a more comfortable, more 'safe' political position, given a larger majority, looks like? With, at a guess, James Callaghan as Home Secretary, Anthony Crosland as Chancellor, and Patrick Gordon-Walker as Foreign Secretary, how radical are the '60s?
A Wilson in this position has to call the next general election in 1968 or 1969 – hardly the strongest moment for an incumbent in the West! If Heath's seat is seemingly rather precarious, does it fall to Maudling to lead the Conservatives in 1968? And if Labour loses, and Wilson is deposed, who comes next? Or if they win – who comes next?
Just some food for thought!
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