Anarcho-Occultist
Well-known member
The comparison of Benjamin Franklin to Donald Trump should be a punishable offense.
I couldn't think of a better Founding Father to be the Trump stand-in.
The comparison of Benjamin Franklin to Donald Trump should be a punishable offense.
I couldn't think of a better Founding Father to be the Trump stand-in.
Thomas Mifflin or even Hancock. There wasn't a shortage of eccentric Patriots either.
Also Adams, notable for his commitment to secularism, is an ugly Pence analogue.
1916-1923 David Lloyd George (Liberal-Conservative Coalition)i got a challenge for you
I went on the Esperanto wikipedia page for the Labour Party
And other than Leaders, these were the only names under 'other significant members'.
View attachment 17026
My Challenge should you choose to accept is to make a list where these three are the only Labour Prime Ministers.
And here is the list. Thoughts?Harold Wilson once thought of resigning in 1976, he was sixty years old, and he thought he was too tired for the job. Jim Callaghan was preparing to take over the reins, after he heard the news that old Harry was thinking of retiring. But then he decided to go to the doctors first. If the doctors said that he should slow down, then he would resign. So, he reached the doctor's office, and it looked like Harold might have some memory loss. From the doctor's analysis, however, it just looked like he needed some sleep. Wilson had feared it was dementia. With that out of the way, Wilson continued being Prime Minister.
...All the way to 1979. Thatcher had wanted to call a no-confidence vote, but she decided against it, thinking that she would not get the numbers to bring down the government. So, the election was held on October 3rd, as was expected. Harold Wilson lost, and lost handily. Thatcher became Britain's first woman Prime Minister. Most in the Labour Party thought that now, at age 63, that Harold Wilson would call time on his premiership of the party. Wilson did not; he announced that he would form the opposition and lead the party into the next election. Many were outraged, and many threatened to leave the party. This all came to a head when, in 1980, Shadow Chancellor James Callaghan challenged Wilson for the leadership. In a tight run contest, Harold Wilson won with 54% to Callaghan's 46%. The Labour Party thundered on with Wilson.
As we all know, Thatcher's first term was not very popular. Wilson was ahead of the polls, and many believed that he would become Prime Minister for the third time by the time that Thatcher called the next election, nineteen years after he first went into Number ten. But then, the Falklands happened. Thatcher became a war-time Prime Minister, and opinions surged. Thatcher called an election relatively shortly after the Falklands War, and Harold Wilson lost even worse than he did four years prior. Once again, there were calls for him to relinquish the leadership of the party. But once again, Wilson refused. Wilson now was 68 years old and would probably be in his early seventies when the next election was called. Regardless, Wilson stayed determined to return to power, no matter what. His shadow cabinet included people like Shirley Williams; after he caught murmurings of a possible split in the party, he made sure to keep them relatively on side. Unlike 1980, this time there was no leadership challenge against him.
As the years went on, Labour under Harold Wilson had a fluctuating position in the polls. However, this was mostly under the Tories. Sometimes the Labour Party would be close behind the Tories, and sometimes they would be far behind. Wilson was beginning to get irritated with the many things that Thatcher was doing that he did not agree with. Mass privatisation, for example. Good god, Wilson thought. Privatisation wasn't the only thing, of course, that he disagreed with Thatcher on. There was a whole multitude of issues that he fundamentally disagreed with Thatcher on. With that in mind, when Wilson voiced these disagreements in the House of Commons, Wilson usually trumped over Thatcher at the dispatch box. He had done so originally from 75 to 79 when she was leading the opposition and he was leading the government, and he was doing it now that he was leading the opposition. Again. For the third time. This didn't deter, Wilson, however. Either way, he could quit now. Thatcher had just called another election, four years after the last. Labour, unfortunately for Wilson, was not able to win back power, but it did look like they were going to be able to win a good number of seats.
And so, they did. Harold Wilson slashed Thatcher's majority in half. With one fell swoop. Of course, everyone expected the Conservative's Majority to take a thumping, but it was a bit of a surprise that Harold Wilson managed to cut it down to size that much. 1987 was a surprising year. Once again, after yet another failure to win the General Election, Harold Wilson, who was now 71, faced calls to resign. Once again, he did not. And, for the second time, he faced a challenge to his leadership. This time, it came from the right of the party, in the form of little-known Labour backbencher Charles Kennedy. He had expressed interest in the possible breakaway party that Roy Jenkins and others had threatened. Wilson had now led his party for twenty-four years, and Kennedy had expected Wilson to be long gone by this point. However, due to the impressive recovery in opposition from the Labour Party, people were at this stage loyal to Wilson. Wilson wins with a supermajority of 68%, to Kennedy's 32%. Kennedy isn't bitter and returns to the Labour backbenches. Time passes, and it is now November 1990. Geoffrey Howe has just resigned from the cabinet, and Michael Heseltine has challenged Margaret Thatcher for the leadership of the Tory party. Thatcher announces that she is going to go to the second ballot, and then she doesn't. Then, after eleven years, Margaret Thatcher leaves Downing Street. John Major is in.
John Major proves to be a bit more of a challenge for Harold Wilson in PMQs. He was himself amazed that he had lasted so long in this job. He was 74 now, certainly getting on in years. He had led his party for nigh-on 30 years, he had become the Father of the House after his former Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor retired for the House of Lords, and if he were to become the Prime Minister again at some point, he would be the first to be concurrently Father of the House during his premiership since Campbell Bannerman. He could only hope that he didn't die a few months after he left office. And speaking of Wilson possibly being back in Downing Street, things were looking incredibly up. Labour was beginning to run ahead of the Conservatives in the polls, but this lead was not consistent. Polls disagreed on whether Labour or the Conservatives could win the most votes, but several predicted a hung parliament. Eventually, the election arrived, and Wilson was hoping to form a government for the first time in 13 years. But, no. The Conservatives were the largest party once again. However, he had forced a hung parliament. The Conservatives were short 7 a majority, and they needed a bit of help from their friends. Sadly, for Wilson, he would once again be shut out of government, with the Tories getting Confidence and Supply from the Ulster Unionists. Once again, Harold Wilson had been locked out of government. And at this point Wilson began to doubt his future in the leadership of the Party. 29 years leading the party; almost double the time Attlee spent. Could he really find it in himself to lead the party into another election?
Well, apparently his wife of 52 years thought so. Mary Wilson, whom he had married in 1940, persuaded him to stay on for one more election, and that if he didn't win that, then he would resign. This pledge to resign if the Labour Party didn't win the next election quelled any possible leadership challenges to the 76-year-old Harold Wilson. He was worried that he may not get the chance to lead another government; he thought that due to his leading the party for twenty-nine years would quell anything that the Tories might do until 1997...and that's when Black Wednesday happened. Just some months after the election, and the Tories had made an almighty cockup. And with that, the Tories were screwed. Labour were, from that point on, always ahead in the polls. The man who had led his party for nigh-on three decades was leading the Government-in-waiting. His cabinet had completely changed around him since 1964, when he became only the third Labour Prime Minister. When he started out as leader, his deputy was George Brown, born in 1914, and now, his deputy leader was Tony Blair, born in 1953. That is not to say that he would be his right-hand man. That would have to be Barry Sheerman, the Shadow First Secretary of State. In fact, Wilson had privately indicated that his anointed successor would eventually be Sheerman. Eventually, John Major called an election for 1 May 1997. The opinion polls continued to predict a hefty Labour majority. The 81-year-old Harold Wilson was determined to not be complacent, and finally get returned to power after 17 and a half years waiting. Harold Wilson, in his Knowsley South constituency, tuned into the BBC, and began watching the Election coverage by David Dimbleby. The exit poll last time correctly predicted the Tory plurality Hung Parliament. And then, Big Ben struck 10.
"And we are saying Harold Wilson is to be Prime Minister and a landslide... is likely." Rapturous cheering was heard in the Labour buildings. Harold Wilson was, surely, going to be the Prime Minister for the third time. Wilson, at eighty-one years old, would be the second-oldest Prime Minister in history, and the oldest elected Prime Minister. He would be one year older than Winston Churchill was after his final retirement. Boy, did it feel good. Harold Wilson tensely waited for the Sunderland South count, and, sure enough, it was a 11% swing. It was in the bag now. At 3AM, Harold Wilson's Labour Party secured enough seats to win a majority, and Major soon conceded defeat. In total, the Labour Party managed a landslide majority of 201 seats, the biggest in its history. Harold Wilson was first elected in the first Labour landslide of 52 years prior, when the Labour Party was led by Clement Attlee. The Prime Minister made one final speech in front of Downing Street, before heading to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation to the Queen, and recommended that she send for Harold Wilson to form a third government; 18 years after his last one ended, and 33 years after his first one started. Before long, the Queen greeted Harold Wilson in Buckingham Palace, and invited Harold Wilson to form a government, which, of course, he accepted. The Queen remarked on his longevity and his tenacity to win and commended him for that. The Prime Minister thanked her for her remarks, and then went on his way to Downing Street. It was surprising that he was in such good health, that much is for certain. He greeted the crowds that surrounded Downing Street, shook their hands, and then started a speech. He thanked the crowds for putting their trust in him again, for the first time in 24 years. He promised that he would govern in their interests and would not let them down and thanked his wife of 57 years for all the support that she has given in the campaign. He then walked into Downing Street, for the first time in almost 20 years.
The new Prime Minister, after writing his letters of last resort, begins appointing his cabinet. Tony Blair is Deputy Prime Minister, while Barry Sheerman is First Secretary of State, and Harold Wilson's real Deputy. In the foreign office was Ann Clwyd, member for Cynon Valley, the first female holder of a Great Office of State other than Margaret Thatcher. In the Home Office was Gordon Brown, the Member for Dunfermline East. Finally, for the Great Offices of State, in the Exchequer, the Prime Minister appointed John Smith, one of the few cabinet members to also have served in the Wilson Government of '74 to '79. Additionally, to give Blair a place in the cabinet, he was made Minister for the Cabinet Office. Meanwhile, the Conservative leadership had been relinquished by John Major in the aftermath of his landslide defeat, and the contest to succeed him had begun. Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor, announced his bid for the Leadership, and was regarded as the frontrunner. William Hague opted not to stand, citing his relative inexperience. John Redwood also stood for the leadership. Peter Lilley wanted to stand, but he didn't make his mind up before the nominations closed. In a two-horse race between Redwood and Clarke, Clarke was victorious, getting over 100 votes, over two thirds of remaining MPs in the House. The new Leader of the Opposition was chosen, and John Major was relegated to the backbenches. Before long, he announced his intention to stand down from parliament at the next election, whenever that was. Many reforms were passed by the Wilson government, and almost all of Thatcher's policies were reversed, to the chagrin of the Conservatives, including Thatcher herself of course. British Rail returned, and certain changes were made to make sure that mass privatisation could not occur in the future. Before long, the year was 2001, and Wilson chose to hold an election after four years. He was now 85 years old, and the oldest Prime Minister in history. The 58-year-old Ken Clarke wished to take advantage of their age difference to try to win the election. Sadly, for Ken Clarke this would not work. The Conservatives lost seats, losing a net of 10, with Labour also losing some seats; both losing seats to the Liberal Party.
Harold Wilson had been returned to power with a hefty majority of 181, the second highest in history, second only to the 1997 result. John Smith retired at this election, being elevated to the House of Lords, due to health issues, including a minor heart attack. He was created The Lord Smith of Argyll, and Lord Smith's health dramatically improved after retiring from frontline politics. Anne Clwyd was made the new Chancellor, with Charles Kennedy, an Under-Secretary for former Home Secretary Clwyd, succeeding her in the Home Office. Ken Clarke, who had only just survived the 2001 election by a whimper, did not hesitate to announce his coming resignation as Tory leader when the results became clear. The Tory Party had, in recent times, changed their election system for their leaders. The parliamentary party would decide on two candidates, the two who get the most votes, and these two candidates would go to the Tory membership. William Hague, who now thought he had what it took, decided to stand for the Leadership. Then followed Michael Howard, then John Redwood again. As there were only just over a hundred seats left for the Tories, those were all the candidates that stood. John Redwood came dead last, meaning that Michael Howard and William Hague would go to the membership vote. This took just over a month to get done, and when the result was announced, William Hague was anointed the new Leader of the Conservatives. Michael Howard was kept on in the Shadow Cabinet, as a powerful Shadow Chancellor. Wilson continued implementing reforms until one day in May 2003. The eighty-seven-year-old Prime Minister Harold Wilson was talking to his wife of 63 years, Mary. He was mentioning how tired he was in this job now, and how he could barely fulfil its capabilities, when he realised; it was high time to retire. On the Second of May 2003, Harold Wilson shockingly announced his resignation as Leader of the Labour Party, citing his growing age and tiredness. After forty years of leading the leading the party, he'd had enough. Barry Sheerman was elected unopposed to be his replacement on June 11th, and Harold Wilson's last day in office was June 12th, when he attended the House of Commons for the last time and answered questions for the last time. After this, Harold Wilson headed to the palace, and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister.
However, Her Majesty had a surprise for him. First, he was going to have dinner with her and the Royal Family. Second, the Cabinet secretly coerced with the Palace, and they were going to bestow an honour that had not been seen for almost seventy years. Harold Wilson was going to be elevated to the House of Lords, as a new Marquess. This had not happened since the brief reign of Edward VIII, when Freeman Freeman-Thomas (yes, real name) was named Marquess of Wilmington. This was the highest honour that both the Cabinet and the Palace could think to give the man who had served his country, and in the case of the cabinet, his party, for so long. The soon-to-be former Prime Minister was unbelievably touched and didn't expect anything like this. He was so grateful for this; he was tearing up when he heard from Her Majesty about these secret plans. Her Majesty told him to cheer up, as he was going to dine with her and the family. Harold Wilson, the Royal Family, and senior members of the cabinet including the new Labour Party leader Barry Sheerman dined together, in commemoration for Harold Wilson's extremely long service. This was an honour only bestowed to Winston Churchill before him, who dined with her Majesty just after his final retirement in 1955. After this was done, Harold Wilson advised Her Majesty to see Barry Sheerman. No fetching would be required as he was already at the Palace. Harold Wilson, at last, had his resignation as Prime Minister accepted, and he went back home, before being sworn into the House of Lords the next day, as the 1st Marquess of Rievaulx. Barry Sheerman was, indeed, asked to form a government, and he accepted. The new Prime Minister then went straight to Downing Street, where he made his first speech. He paid enormous tribute to Harold Wilson, one of the longest serving Prime Ministers of modern times, and by far the longest serving main party leader ever. Forty years leading the Labour Party. A triumphant success after 18 years of opposition under himself. Barry Sheerman would serve as Prime Minister for the next eight years, before losing to John Redwood, who became Tory leader on his fourth attempt. He attended the funeral of Margaret Thatcher in 2013 at the age of 97, looking remarkably frail, yet at the same time strong. Finally, though, on the 30th of December 2017, Lord Wilson died at the age of 101. The longest-lived Prime Minister in history. Massive outpourings of grief were received from around the world to an elder statesman, and a political legend. PM Redwood led these tributes.
Lord and Lady Wilson were married for 77 years, one of the longest married couples in the world. Lady Wilson died the year after. The Queen attended the funeral of the Marquess of Rievaulx, something she has only done for Thatcher and Churchill before him. Lord Wilson's legacy can be seen everywhere today. A statue of him is in the Leader of the Opposition Charles Kennedy's office. Charles Kennedy is favourite to win the next election, currently slated for 2021. Harold Wilson is dearly missed.
Holy shit this is a dystopia, especially the parts about banning VPNs and trans rights going down the gutter.The following is a list I started working on over Christmas and have just got round to finishing. It is long, and features only two prime ministers, and is so nowpunk it is kinda out of date my the time it's posted. And arguably it isn't a Prime Ministers list. But then, what is a Prime Ministers List? It's like asking what art is. It's what you find. It's an abstract concept. It's in the wind. It defies easy definition. But, Behold:
2020
January: Brexit goes through on 31 January.
February: Ed Davey elected Lib Dem leader, defeating Layla Moran.
March: Keir Starmer elected Labour leader, defeating Rebbecca Long-Bailey, and Lisa Nandy.
Chancellor: Ben Bradshaw
Home: Angela Eagle
Foreign: Hilary Benn
BEIS: Liz Kendall
Health: Rebecca Long-Bailey
Education: Sarah Champion
Justice: Rachel Reeves
Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Ed Milliband
Women and Equalities: Jess Philips
Work and Pensions: Stephen Kinnock
Defence: Dan Jarvis
July: Trans Pride Brighton is interrupted by a group of anti-trans protestors who attempt to block the march. Women's Place UK had arranged for a group of detransitioners to hold a die in in front of the march. The protestors were dragged away and a few were trampled and while the issues of safeguarding were raised - such as that the detransitioners had not been told what they were lying down in front of - the media narrative was trans activists assault feminist group. The discourse on trans rights would become far less tolerant after this.
August: Magid Magid and Alexandra Phillips are elected co-leaders of the Green Party in a close election against incumbents Jon Bartley and Sian Berry. Jenny Jones and Shahrar Ali run a third option campaign and, as their second preference voters go mostly to Magid and Phillips, they blame the outgoing leadership's bias towards trans people as a big reason for their defeat. Shahrar leave the party in September, saying that the party has lost its way. It was noted that in September the party had finally begun a long awaited investigation into his antisemitism.
November: After a series of missteps the government agrees to a one year extension on the final Brexit Deal. Dominic Raab resigns as Foreign Secretary and is replaced with Michael Gove.
2021
March: Liz Truss' car is intentionally crashed into on her way to her constituency office. The attacker, who is broadly associated with ISIS, is killed in the attack. Liz Truss is hospitalised for three months and is out of politics for the rest of the year, returning to westminster in late 2022 as the first Conservative Party wheelchair using MP.
May: A wave of devolved assembly elections: in Wales Mark Drakeford (Labour) is returned as First Minister. In Scotland Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) wins a majority again, and in Northern Ireland Chris Hazzard (Sinn Fein) wins a plurality, however the DUP make it clear that they will not go into government without the UUP, to give a majority within government for Unionism. This is rejected and debates in Northern Ireland will continue for another year. In England, the government releases its report on devolution, offering regional mayors (elected by FPTP) to 30 cities and combined authorities, covering the whole of the UK. These are to be phased in gradually with the first full English election to take place in 2026.
December: A final deal on Brexit is finally reached. The economy has been reacting to (and contracting due to) Brexit for years and the final separation is not as much of a crash as was feared.
2022
March: Queen Elizabeth II dies, memorials take place across the country, flowers pile up. King Charles III is appointed. Plans begin for a coronation, but the funeral defines the year.
May: Baitul Futuh Mosque is burned to the ground by white nationalist terrorists.
June: The first UK Straight Pride March takes place in London. The LGB Alliance makes it clear that they condemn the organisers and coincidentally host a rally that day on the Fringe, Women's Place UK affirms that straight people have a right to march and attend the after party to talk about the horrors of medical transition on children (the last NHS GIC to deal with trans people closed in 2021), Posie Parker's new "Biology Party" leads the march and puts out a progressive case for the march - arguing that over-representation of gay men in the media and professions is taking away opportunities from women. Steven Morrissey attends the march as leader of For Britain although he is banned from speaking at a panel on men's rights after Phillip Davies MP refuses to go on stage with him at the last minute.
September: IndyRef2 takes place - but is not sanctioned by the UK government. Yes wins 75.2%, No gets just 24.8% but many people boycott the contest, the turnout is 60.1%
November: The Data and Investigatory Powers Act 2022 updates the UK's security policies, allowing the UK government to access more voice recording data collected passively, along with third party data, and content along with metadata. It increases the number of government services that can access this data and allows agencies to retain information indefinitely without a warrant. VPNs are banned and other forms of encryption are increased.
2023
May: A collapse in the Chinese economic sector begins that will have widespread implications throughout the world. Not least in Britain, where it exacerbates existing post-Brexit issues.
June: Manchester Pride announces measures to ensure that Pride will remain a celebration that's inclusive for all the community and will not be bogged down in fighting - anti-trans groups and trans groups are banned from attending and new Public Order Act powers are used to ensure that the inevitable protests and counter-protests keep away from the march. The Biology Party argues that this move effectively bans women from the march, the LGB Alliance complains that this move bans gay people, and the new Uprising Party argues that this bans trans people. However it is noted that the usual run of protests and violence which are becoming such a feature of the month, are far less pronounced in Manchester this year. The pattern will be followed by other big Pride celebrations over the next few years.
July: Coronation of Charles III provides a much needed boost to the country as economic news and news from abroad worsens. The coronation is followed on thousands of channels and by social media and an estimated 3 billion people followed the ceremony around the world. A wave of dawn raids clear protest leaders although some small protests do take place when President Trump visits Scotland.
August: Joanna Cherry takes over as SNP Leader & First Minister of Scotland, having moved from Westminster in 2021.
October: The NHS's six Gender Identity Clinics are closed down and replaced with three Gender Dysphoria Centres. These specify they are for people with binary gender dysphoria sufficient to threaten executive functioning. The NHS warns there will be a slight delay for new patients as current ones are reassessed.
December: The Scottish government passes a resolution granting themselves the right to hold a binding referendum on independence, which the UK government denies. The SNP plan to take this to the International Court of Justice.
2024
May: General election
Boris Johnson (Conservative): 326
Keir Starmer (Labour): 209
Joanna Cherry (SNP): 38
Ed Davey (Lib Dem): 8
Chris Hazzard (Sinn Fein): 7
Edwin Poots (DUP): 5
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru): 3
Naomi Long (Alliance): 3
Speaker: 1
Conservative
Labour
- Education: Increase fees in higher education and deregulate the sector to allow more rights to alternative service providers and more options for cheaper courses.
- Environment: A Green Industrial Revolution pushing £100 billion into climate change businesses over the next ten years.
- Constitution: Reform the London Assembly to utilise FPTP and increase the size of London.
- Housing: Relaxing housing laws to build 3 million new private homes by 2029
- Scotland: Will refuse to allow a third Scottish Independence Referendum under any circumstances
- LGBT Issues: Re-classify gender reassignment as an elective therapy unavailable on the NHS, and rewrite the Equality Act to provide "protections for everyone".
Lib Dem
- Education: Reduce Higher Education fees to £8000 .
- Environment: Green Industrial Revolution with £250 billion in funding over 5 years.
- Constitution: Replace the House of Lords with an elected second chamber, introduce councillors in the English Devolved Authorities
- Housing: Create a million affordable homes and increase renters rights.
- Scotland: Will make the case to the ICJ, should it be needed, to argue that Scotland does not have the right to a third, unilateral, referendum.
- LGBT Issues: Hold a consultation on gender self-identification and non-binary rights
Green Party
- Education: Increase flexible/part time courses and alternative service providers in Higher Education
- Environment: A £300 billion Green New Deal
- Constitution: Introduce STV electoral system, and elected House of Lords and English regional assemblies. Rejoin the EU.
- Housing: Ensure 5 million new homes are built over the next five years.
- Scotland: Will cooperate with the IGJ ruling on Scotland
- LGBT Issues: Introduce gender self-ID and non-binary/polyamorous rights. Review marriage laws to make marriage more inclusive.
- Education: Scrap tuition fees and renationalise public secondary education
- Environment: Borrow £500 billion over 5 years for a climate emergancy fund.
- Constitution: Introduce PR, an elected upper house and elected regional assemblies
- Housing: Introduce a rental price cap and right for tenants to buy. Built a million council homes.
- Scotland: Supports the right of Scotland to hold a third referendum should they choose to
- LGBT Issues: Introduce gender self-ID and non-binary/polyamorous rights. Review marriage laws to make marriage more inclusive.
July: Layla Moran elected Lib Dem leader
August: Magid Magid and Caroline Lucas elected Green Leaders in their first election where co-leader are elected on separate tickets. Lucas represented an anti-Magid faction, arguing that the party needed to return to a more respectable form of politics. The result caused an upset within the party and an uncomfortable result.
September: Crisis Budget. The government implements a bailout for major banks and economic stimulus. At the same time there are major budget cuts, public sector pay freezes, a reduction in Universal Credit, and VAT is raised to 22.5%
October: Keir Starmer wins a leadership contest, following his resignation after the election to settle issues on the direction of the party.
2025
May: Florence Eshalomi becomes Mayor of London. An agreement was reached to delay the election a year on account of the general election.
June: The "Bathroom Bill" passes into law, this is really an alteration to the Equality Act that enforces segregation by biological sex in prisons, hospitals, rape clinics, and sports, and sets it as a default in public bathrooms and changing rooms.
July: The ice caps melt for the first time, creating a global outpouring of concern, but very little immediate practical changes.
October: Charles III dies aged 76 after what is revealed to have been his second stroke. He was not a popular king, but did defy the low expectations set for him during his short reign
2026
May: An election year of upsets. Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) becomes First Minister for Wales in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, Naomi Long (Alliance) wins the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and this is sufficient to form a government alongside Sinn Fein and the DUP. In Scotland, a Conservative-Labour-Lib Dem "Rainbow Coalition" is sufficient to unseat the SNP. Jenny Marra (Labour) is elected First Minister.
July: The coronation of William V is watched by just 1 billion people and is a scaled down ceremony, given that it is the second coronation of the decade and the Palace is concerned that the public will view lavish spending on ceremony as insensitive so soon after the recession.
August: Magid Magid and Tamsin Omond elected Green leaders, with Caroline Lucas stepping down from the party - after months of inactivity. It should be noted that Tamsin is the first non-binary leader in British political history.
September: Great Storm of 2026. A violent extra tropical cyclone hits Britain, coming from the south west and causing extreme property damage and damage to key transport infrastructure. The storm goes through Wales and as far north as Yorkshire.
October: David McDonald is elected leader of the SNP
November: The Equality Act 2026. The aim of the Equality Act is to simplify a complex set of precedents into a more simple rule - essentially stating that discriminating against law abiding citizens for any reason in work, health, medicine or commerce is illegal. The act gives specific exemptions and provisos, including an exemption for trans people without a Gender Recognition Certificate using sex segregated services. The act also creates new opportunities to protect religious and philosophical objections to equality provisos, and limits the scope of positive discrimination.
2027
March: A large fire rips through Westminster, taking parliament out of service and forcing it to find temporary accomodation in the QE2 Centre. Maintenance on the building was delayed due to government cuts and was badly needed. Westminster will remain out of service for the House of Commons until 2039.
May: The London Plan is put forward - unsurprisingly it greatly extends the City. The eastern extent goes as far as Rochester in Kent -and Chelmsford in Essex - to the west, Maidenhead. To the north it stretches as far as Welwyn Garden City and in the south a small outcrop even makes it down to Crawley. The London Assembly will be expanded from 25 seats to 150, to be elected by FPTP. In exchange London will get increased power and a boost in funding to improve commuter contact and housing. The current assembly votes to reject the motion, but it is made clear that while the plan is only a draft at present it is also not up for debate.
July: Prime Minister Boris Johnson marries his long term girlfriend, Sunday Times lifestyle blogger Venice Arnold. The ceremony attracts global attention and reinvigorates a narrative of romance for "The Love Actually Prime Minister" that has been simmering in the press for years.
October: The London Riots of 2027 begin after a series of deaths in police custody come to light, but rapidly grows into generalised looting and burning.
November: Northern Ireland becomes the first part of the United Kingdom to implement gender self-ID. It is notable that it is also the first part of the UK not to have a consultation on the matter. Scotland has had three (2018, 2020, 2024) and England and Wales have had four (2018, 2022, 2024 and 2027) and these have usually corresponded with increases in hate crimes. The deal goes through because the DUP is in a compliant mood - accepting it in exchange for a protection of some same sex spaces exemptions and no rights for non-binary people. While the Alliance and Sinn Fein agree to it.
2028
May: General Election.
Conservative
Labour
- Education: Implement school credits making it easier for middle class families to afford fee paying schools.
- Welfare: Introduce mandatory, government backed unemployment insurance to introduce and a genuine market into the Job Centre system.
- Environment: Continue funding the Green Industrial Revolution with £250 billion by 2040 and a promise to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Constitution: Go ahead with the London Plan.
- Housing: Build a million new affordable homes by 2030, introduce a right to rent scheme to help first time renters afford housing deposits.
- LGBT Issues: Maintain protection of women's rights and oppose the medicalisation of childhood.
Lib Dem
- Education: Introduce top up grants to help poorer students undertake STEMM courses, which are increasingly the most expensive.
- Welfare: Reduce the waiting time for Universal credit to six weeks and provide an appeals process to sanctions, along with personal assistance.
- Environment: A £600 billion budget for the Green Industrial Revolution by 2050, including funding for climate change mitigation.
- Constitution: Regional assemblies for the English Devolved Regions and use of the current MMP system to elect the new London Assembly.
- Housing: Build 5 million affordable homes and flats by 2040 through an extensive programme of building partially funded through the Green Industrial Revolution.
- LGBT Issues: Introduce gender self-ID for binary trans people and scrap the Gender Dysphoria Centre system.
Green Party
- Education: Increase flexible/part time courses and alternative service providers in Higher Education
- Welfare: A new Social Care Act and Carer's Charter
- Environment: Focus research into geoengineering and work with the EU on Actic Ice preservation efforts, also fund flood mitigation and aim for carbon neutrality by 2040.
- Constitution: Oppose the London Plan but give extra rights to a new London Parliament. Introduce STV electoral system, and elected House of Lords and English regional assemblies. Rejoin the EU.
- Housing: Build 10 million homes by 2050
- LGBT Issues: Restore protections for protected characteristics and introduce gender self-ID with rights for non-binary people. Consult on polyamorous marriage.
- Education: Scrap tuition fees and nationalise secondary education, including public schools
- Welfare: Scrap Universal Credit and introduce Universal Basic Income
- Environment: Borrow £100 billion a year to fund projects to prevent climate tipping points and aim for carbon neutrality by 2040.
- Constitution: Introduce PR and an elected Upper chamber along with English regional assemblies. Abolish the monarchy.
- Housing: Decriminalise rough sleeping and squatting, fund housing co-operatives
- LGBT Issues: Decriminalise kink and introduce polyamorous marriage, introduce gender self-ID including non-binary people.
Boris Johnson (Conservative): 327
Keir Starmer (Labour): 222
Joanna Cherry (SNP): 18
Layla Moran (Lib Dem): 13
Chris Hazzard (Sinn Fein): 6
Naomi Long (Alliance): 5
Edwin Poots (DUP): 4
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru): 4
Speaker: 1
August: Daisy Cooper elected Lib Dem Leader
October: Dawn Butler elected Labour Leader, defeating Stephen Kinnock
December: Divorce of William V, whose affair with one of Buckingham Palace's staffers has been well documented in the foreign press and has become unavoidable even by the UK press, who attempted for a long time to not report on the story. Public perception of the monarchy reaches a new low, with support for republicanism at 45% according to one YouGov poll
2029
March: Consistently unprofitable social media website twitter.com is closed after an unsuccessful two year effort from Yahoo! to make it viable. The site's remaining 2 million active users continue their migration into an increasingly diversified social media landscape.
May: Jameela Jamil (Liberal Democrat) surprises bookies by winning the London mayoralty from Eshalomi, who is seen as weak on racism and on the London Plan. She demands a People's Vote on the plan, and confusingly to non-Londoners, uses her acceptance speech to address issues of police brutality.
September: Wales becomes the second part of the UK to back gender self-ID, this time without a statutory declaration that incurrs legal fees, and with recognition of non-binary identities.
October: Members of the London Metropolitan police force are found to have abused their power through spying, blackmailing, police brutality, and harrassment. The story has been simmering in social media for over a year but is increasingly finding an outlet in mainstream media.
December: The great floods of 2029 see large areas of the somerset levels and other low lying regions of the country - for thousands of households, Christmas is spent sleeping in school halls in less impacted areas, and many people don't have their homes back until March or even April.
2030
May: Chris Hazzard (Sinn Fein) is elected as the first Republican First Minister in Northern Ireland, much to the consternation of the DUP, however, government relaxation of the Good Friday Agreement means he can form a government with the Alliance. In Wales Hannah Blythyn (Labour) becomes the first female and first openly LGBT First Minister. David McDonald (SNP) is elected Scottish First Minister under an SNP minority government in coalition with the Greens.
June: The government caves to pressure on the London Plan - expansion of the city will go ahead, and the Assembly will be expanded to a full parliament, but an MMP electoral system will be maintained.
August: Joe Levy and Munroe Bergdorf elected Green Leaders however it is notable that in the English and Welsh party the serious contenders are no longer the old moderate party members (represented by Amelia Womack and Benali Hamdache) but rather the more extreme left which argues for anarchism and prison abolition.
September: Home Secretary Liz Truss resigns over the ongoing policing scandal.
October: The Shanty Town Movement begins housing large populations in unused buildings and even constructing new eco-homes on unused space. These movements almost immediately hit into issues from the government.
2031
January: Police in Wiltshire attack a Shanty Town in a major incident involving non-lethal weapons and intense police brutality. The Prime Minister denies that the incident has happened to videos of it happening and by the end of the week Felicity Buchan has resigned as Home Secretary.
February: Arrest of William V on drink driving charges, much to the surprise of people outside of the Palace, who assumed he would not be able to break away from his handlers. The sheer level of forethought and planning that has gone into his self-destructive behaviour astonishes the public. The King goes to rehab.
May: Scotland becomes the third part of the UK to implement gender self-ID. Jameela Jamil commits to introducing it in London if re-elected with new powers in 2033.
October: Home Secretary Ben Bradley resigns, arguing that he cannot bring about government policies on a national constabulary under expected levels of scrutiny and while making cost and efficiency savings.
November: Abdication of William V. There are significant calls, not only from the Lib Dems, Greens and the Nationalists but also from the Labour front benches, that parliament should have some say in the succession. However, this is flatly refused. King George VII who is just 18 and keenly aware of his own inexperience, opts for a regency, taking advice from Prince Harry and from his mother the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton. Kate Middleton agrees to resign the title and return to the title of Duchess, allowing Charlotte to take on the title Princess of Wales. George VII will be the last king of the 21st century, as his rule extended into the 22nd century and will be bookended by regencies in 2031-2034 and 2103-2129.
December: Home Secretary Daniel Hannan resigns as Home Secretary citing the government's unwillingness to move forward on the policing enquiry.
2032
February: The Coronation of George VII is meant to be a small affair but grows out of all proportion amidst accusations that Downing Street is attempting to use the coronation as one last roll of the dice for unity and support of Boris Johnson. The media is filled with combative articles about republicanism and the radicalisation of the left.
March: The position of Elected PCC is abolished, with power returning to the centre under a new National Police Force.
April: The Chair of the 1922 Committee announces that she has enough letters to ask Boris Johnson to resign, which, to the surprise of many, he does. Not even bothering to address the country until he gets to Chequors to record a broadcast on his own terms. Boris Johnson also announces that he will take the Chiltern Hundreds and leave politics.
May: Uxbridge and Ruislip By-Election:
Felix Bungay (Conservative): 23.9% Abby Tomlinson (Labour): 23.1% Madeleina Kay (Lib Dem): 21.2%Richard Branson (Enterprise): 9.3%Ankit Love (Green): 6.4%Stephen Morrissey (Movement For Britain): 6.1%Mandu Reid (Women's Equality Party): 5.1%Tom Black (Turquoise Blue Party): 1.2%Lord Buckethead (Buckethead for PM): 1.1%Olivia Palmer (Biology Party): 1%Lord Buckethead (Official Raving Monster Loony Party): 0.7%Dennis Arnold (Independent): 0.4%Lord Buckethead (Independent): 0.3%Salom Pax (Transhumanist): 0.2%
June: The Conservative Leadership election comes down, as all Conservative leadership elections constitutionally must, to a head to head decision between two candidates. James Cleverly positions himself more to the centre of the party - arguing for gender self-ID within the year, more money for prevention of climate tipping points, parliamentary oversight into the composition and duration of the regency, and moderate tax increases to reduce the strain on spending. Liz Truss focuses on a more right wing position including a focus on climate mitigation at home, more money for the National Police Force and supplementing it with control over the Fire Service, and relying on efficiency savings to balance the deficit.
The election comes down to the wire, and with just 316 votes in it, James Cleverly becomes the first Black Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Doesn't really seem like a Republican Party that can split the black vote. Goldwater being a scumbag and all that.
WhY CaNt MlK ReSpEcT PrIvAtE PrOpErTy?/?yeah but japhy don't you know that goldwater actually hated racism and only supports segregation because he loves freedom
/s (obviously)
Beame
What's Rockwell, chopped liver?well fuck
I wonder if Gore Vidal also remains an America First in this timeline,seeing as he defended it til his death and still thought Roosevelt was behind Pearl Harbor.Also EVIL Gerald Ford
ProbablyI wonder if Gore Vidal also remains an America First in this timeline,seeing as he defended it til his death and still thought Roosevelt was behind Pearl Harbor.