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Lists of Heads of Government and Heads of State

Career of Jeremy Clarkson

1972-1973: Voice actor, BBC Radio 4
- stared in Children's Hour serial adaptation of Anthony Buckeridge's Jennings novels until his voice broke
1974-1981: Student
- expelled from Repton School for disorderly behaviour
1981-1989: Journalist
- wrote for Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, Lincolnshire Life, Shropshire Star, The Times and The Daily Telegraph
1989-1994: Embedded journalist, Daily Telegraph Brussels Bureau
- briefly the favourite journalist of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, but annoyed her successor John Major
1994-2000: Opinion columnist, the Sun
1997-2001: Magistrate for the Epping Magistrates Court
1999: UKIP candidate for South East England (European Parliament)
lost to Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrats)
2000-2001: Guest, Have I Got News for You
2000-2002: Panelist, Question Time
2001-2015: Conservative Party MP for Witney
'01: defeated Michael Bartlet (Labour), Gareth Epps (Liberal Democrats), Mark Stevenson (Green), others
'05: defeated Liz Leffman (Liberal Democrats), Tony Gray (Labour), Richard Dossett-Davies (Green), others
'10: defeated Dawn Barnes (Liberal Democrats), Stuart MacDonald (Green), Joe Goldberg (Labour), others
'15: lost to Larry Sanders (Green), Duncan Enright (Labour), Simon Strutt (UKIP), Andy Graham (Liberal Democrats), others
2012-2015: Secretary of State for Transport
appointed by Prime Minister John Bercow
- dismissed from post following assault of a policy adviser, as well as a prior altercation with a hoodie in 2006, covered up as part of Bullygate
2016-present: Private citizen, author, farmer
 
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Blackentheborg said:
Career of Jeremy Clarkson

1972-1973: Voice actor, BBC Radio 4
- stared in Children's Hour serial adaptation of Anthony Buckeridge's Jennings novels until his voice broke
1974-1981: Student
- expelled from Repton School for disorderly behaviour
1981-1989: Journalist
- wrote for Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, Lincolnshire Life, Shropshire Star, The Times and The Daily Telegraph
1989-1994: Embedded journalist, Daily Telegraph Brussels Bureau
- briefly the favourite journalist of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, but annoyed her successor John Major
1994-2000: Opinion columnist, the Sun
1997-2001: Magistrate for the Epping Magistrates Court
1999: UKIP candidate for South East England (European Parliament)
lost to Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrats)
2000-2001: Guest, Have I Got News for You
2000-2002: Panelist, Question Time
2001-2015: Conservative Party MP for Witney
'01: defeated Michael Bartlet (Labour), Gareth Epps (Liberal Democrats), Mark Stevenson (Green), others
'05: defeated Liz Leffman (Liberal Democrats), Tony Gray (Labour), Richard Dossett-Davies (Green), others
'10: defeated Dawn Barnes (Liberal Democrats), Stuart MacDonald (Green), Joe Goldberg (Labour), others
'15: lost to Larry Sanders (Green), Duncan Enright (Labour), Simon Strutt (UKIP), Andy Graham (Liberal Democrats), others
2012-2015: Secretary of State for Transport
appointed by Prime Minister John Bercow
- dismissed from post following assault of a policy adviser, as well as a prior altercation with a hoodie in 2006, covered up as part of Bullygate
2016-present: Private citizen, author, farmer
Click to expand...
The UKIP bit is the only glaring issue - UKIP was not a careerist move in 1999 and it would be unlikely to be an ideological choice.

But then, let's think about his character - he's grandiose, impatient, macho, he's not sophisticated and he is driven by his id. As a motoring journalist -international trade, travel, supporting British businesses abroad etc are essential. Being in the EU is the straight path to getting what he values.

If he spent a decade learning about EU beaurocracy his politics would be hella different especially as he works for the Sun and complaining about Europe would be his job. I think Boris Johnson became more eurosceptic by being there.

That aside, I really really like this, it feels real.
 
Blackentheborg said:
Career of Jeremy Clarkson

1972-1973: Voice actor, BBC Radio 4
- stared in Children's Hour serial adaptation of Anthony Buckeridge's Jennings novels until his voice broke
1974-1981: Student
- expelled from Repton School for disorderly behaviour
1981-1989: Journalist
- wrote for Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, Lincolnshire Life, Shropshire Star, The Times and The Daily Telegraph
1989-1994: Embedded journalist, Daily Telegraph Brussels Bureau
- briefly the favourite journalist of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, but annoyed her successor John Major
1994-2000: Opinion columnist, the Sun
1997-2001: Magistrate for the Epping Magistrates Court
1999: UKIP candidate for South East England (European Parliament)
lost to Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrats)
2000-2001: Guest, Have I Got News for You
2000-2002: Panelist, Question Time
2001-2015: Conservative Party MP for Witney
'01: defeated Michael Bartlet (Labour), Gareth Epps (Liberal Democrats), Mark Stevenson (Green), others
'05: defeated Liz Leffman (Liberal Democrats), Tony Gray (Labour), Richard Dossett-Davies (Green), others
'10: defeated Dawn Barnes (Liberal Democrats), Stuart MacDonald (Green), Joe Goldberg (Labour), others
'15: lost to Larry Sanders (Green), Duncan Enright (Labour), Simon Strutt (UKIP), Andy Graham (Liberal Democrats), others
2012-2015: Secretary of State for Transport
appointed by Prime Minister John Bercow
- dismissed from post following assault of a policy adviser, as well as a prior altercation with a hoodie in 2006, covered up as part of Bullygate
2016-present: Private citizen, author, farmer
Click to expand...
Fascinated by the implied Green surge here, especially since Clarkson being a prominent politician can surely have only helped it along
 
Heat said:
Fascinated by the implied Green surge here, especially since Clarkson being a prominent politician can surely have only helped it along
Click to expand...
why privatize the railways when you can sell the railways to ford for scrap and use the proceeds to build a highway from blackpool to douglas
 
(Didn't know if this merited a "challenge thread" of its own, so I'm sharing it here):

After recently rereading the Turtledove short story "Joe Steele" (which I found far more entertaining and readable than the novel-length version), I've become curious as to how the post-story leadership would shake out, presuming J. Edgar Hoover is overthrown a la Beria in OTL and if the personality, type, tenure and even initials, full or partial (Ex: N.K., L.B.) of subsequent leaders roughly follows that of OTL's USSR, albeit with "elections" to supposedly prove post-"Joe Steele" America isn't a one-party state. Obviously exact parallels are at best difficult and at worst impossible, but I'd like to put the list out there for anyone who has any ideas.

To start off:

Malenkov/Bulganin Equiv. (Late 1953-1956): No idea; suggestions welcome!

Khrushchev Equiv. (1956-1964/65): Harry Truman or Joe Kennedy Sr. (based mainly on dates of death and rough similarities in appearance--glasses, smile, etc.--along with some policy stances that might be swung as parallels to OTL Khrushchev's; Joe Sr. seems the least likely of the two, however.)

Brezhnev Equiv. (1964/65-1980/82): Richard Nixon is an obvious/plausible temptation, and has been done before (see Back in the USSA), but I'm not quite sure he fits the image of "ossified bureaucrat" which Brezhnev presents; suggestions welcome!

Andropov Equiv. (1980/82-84): James Angleton (based on CIA career and--roughly--similar date of death).

Chernenko Equiv. (1982-84/85): No idea; some suitable party hack from Dem. or GOP, perhaps? Thought about Roy Cohn for a split second based on date of death, but that doesn't work on multiple other levels, so no.

Gorbachev Equiv. (1985-1991/92): James Carter ("Jimmy"="Gorby" in this TL? :LOL:), based mainly on agricultural upbringing/background and policy stances (during and after his presidency) that might parallel some of those of OTL's Gorbachev.
 
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Sideways said:
The UKIP bit is the only glaring issue - UKIP was not a careerist move in 1999 and it would be unlikely to be an ideological choice.

But then, let's think about his character - he's grandiose, impatient, macho, he's not sophisticated and he is driven by his id. As a motoring journalist -international trade, travel, supporting British businesses abroad etc are essential. Being in the EU is the straight path to getting what he values.

If he spent a decade learning about EU beaurocracy his politics would be hella different especially as he works for the Sun and complaining about Europe would be his job. I think Boris Johnson became more eurosceptic by being there.

That aside, I really really like this, it feels real.
Click to expand...
To be perfectly honest the UKIP thing is entirely based on bias for Clarkson as we know him, being critical of the EU now and generally problematic. Odds are in this timeline he's more pro-EU, but I feel like it fits his character.
 
“In the aftermath of the Labour - Liberal Pact of 1974, in which Whitlock and Lubbock agreed upon a three Year Confidence & Supply deal, one of the major aspects would be the creation of new ‘Super Councils’ as one Minister dubbed the findings of the Redcliffe-Maud Report. Delayed by the Conservative Government of 1969, the report would finally be implemented in 1975 with caveats implemented by the Liberals, mainly a form of proportional representation. With councillors being elected on a single transferable voting system, up and down the country, the traditional parties found themselves having to compete with Localist Populists, Eccentric Local Characters and Left Wing Insurgents who started to tailor there political campaigns towards this new found opportunity…”

Councillor for North Nottingham and Bulwell:

1975 - 1977: John Peck (Communist)
1977 - 1980: John Peck (Independent Socialist)
1980 - : John Peck (Democratic Left)

“John Peck had acquired a reputation within the Nottingham Area, as a stringent fighter for Trade Union Rights, Working Class Solidarity and for Local Representation. Tailoring his campaign towards local issues and courting a coalition of disaffected Labour voters, Communists, apolitical local residents and even Conservative’s who sought an effective local voice, Peck would win the first East Midlands Province Council election by gaming the system that had been implemented, famously campaigning on, “One for Me, One for Yourselves” and couching his campaign in the seeming confusion over the new system.

Once in office, Peck would rapidly prove to be an effective Councillor, regularly holding surgeries and often taking on the machine politics of the local Labour and Conservative parties in the area, who saw the new councils as a possible way to continue securing power over the political system.

But it would be events outside of the Councils that would have a profound effect on Peck. A long time Communist member, he was often at odds with the more doctrine oriented higher ups in the party, particularly after the EuroCommunist movement started to spread in popularity following the victory of Berlinguer’s Communists in 1976 on a EuroCommunist platform. With Brezhnev’s death in 77’ also causing splits within the movement between ‘Stalinists’ and ‘EuroCommunists’, Peck found himself on the wrong side and was forced to resign his membership in 1977 by the Stalinist faction of the local party.

Not deterred, Peck would continue as an Independent Socialist, helped by his connections to the local Unions and an amicable relationship he had shored up amongst the local Left, he was able to win another term as a Councillor in 1978, helped by having even more of an independent appeal now. The election that year had produced a minority Conservative council, so Peck often found himself a predominant swing vote that Labour and other councillors actively courted.

The creation of the East Midlands Environmental Authority in 1979 was a cross party achievement pushed by Peck who had become actively interested in environmental issues alongside his traditional Socialist causes. Continuing to be popular, Peck would be approached by members of the Democratic Left Party, formed in the aftermath of the Rightward shift within Labour caused by Richard Marsh’s election to leader in 1977.

As the 80s rolled on, and the government of Davies was rolled aside by Richard Marsh, Peck and the British Trade Union movement would find itself increasingly at loggerheads with Marsh and his aspirations for a Social Market Britain…”
 
Qaz_plm said:
Events please stop happening
2022-2023: Paul Michael Levesque (American)
2023-: Vince McMahon (American)
Click to expand...

Its more like Vince is in the Presidential cabinet...maybe. We're not sure

Presumably This world also sees Giant Baba of the All Japan Party as Prime Minister of Japan for like...20 years (with Inoki in opposition, thinking about it, was NJPW ever the lead promotion under Inoki?) with current PM as either Gedo or Takami Ohbari of the New Japan Party

this would infer a seperate womens Diet in Japan

Meanwhile in the UK Andrew Quildan of the Revolutionary Progressive Party (or RevPro) defeats American forces under former president Levesque, driving them from the UK and Ireland :p
 
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MAC161 said:
(Didn't know if this merited a "challenge thread" of its own, so I'm sharing it here):

After recently rereading the Turtledove short story "Joe Steele" (which I found far more entertaining and readable than the novel-length version), I've become curious as to how the post-story leadership would shake out, presuming J. Edgar Hoover is overthrown a la Beria in OTL and if the personality, type, tenure and even initials, full or partial (Ex: N.K., L.B.) of subsequent leaders roughly follows that of OTL's USSR, albeit with "elections" to supposedly prove post-"Joe Steele" America isn't a one-party state. Obviously exact parallels are at best difficult and at worst impossible, but I'd like to put the list out there for anyone who has any ideas.

To start off:

Malenkov/Bulganin Equiv. (Late 1953-1956): No idea; suggestions welcome!

Khrushchev Equiv. (1956-1964/65): Harry Truman or Joe Kennedy Sr. (based mainly on dates of death and rough similarities in appearance--glasses, smile, etc.--along with some policy stances that might be swung as parallels to OTL Khrushchev's; Joe Sr. seems the least likely of the two, however.)

Brezhnev Equiv. (1964/65-1980/82): Richard Nixon is an obvious/plausible temptation, and has been done before (see Back in the USSA), but I'm not quite sure he fits the image of "ossified bureaucrat" which Brezhnev presents; suggestions welcome!

Andropov Equiv. (1980/82-84): James Angleton (based on CIA career and--roughly--similar date of death).

Chernenko Equiv. (1982-84/85): No idea; some suitable party hack from Dem. or GOP, perhaps? Thought about Roy Cohn for a split second based on date of death, but that doesn't work on multiple other levels, so no.

Gorbachev Equiv. (1985-1991/92): James Carter ("Jimmy"="Gorby" in this TL? :LOL:), based mainly on agricultural upbringing/background and policy stances (during and after his presidency) that might parallel some of those of OTL's Gorbachev.
Click to expand...
How about these possibilities for Malenkov Equiv.: James Farley, Richard J. Daley or (least likely) Frank Rizzo? Basically trying to think of a suitable "Party man/boss" who could rise to become a favorite of "Joe Steele", and then fade into obscurity and pass away in late 1970s or '80s (1988 is the best for a parallel figure)

Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. is also looking like a possibility for Chernenko, given date of death.

Suggestions still welcome, as ever!
 
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2011 - 2016: Peter Hain (Labour)
2011 (Majority) def: Liam Fox (Conservative), Evan Harris (Liberal Democrats)
2016 - 2020: Tim Collins (Conservative)
2016 (Majority) def: Peter Hain (Labour), Evan Harris (Liberal Democrats)
2019 Brexit Referendum: Yes 47%, No 53%
2020 - 2023: Ben Wallace (Conservative)
2021 (Democratic Unionist Confidence & Supply) def: Tom Watson (Labour), Caroline Pidgeon (Liberal Democrats), Jason Zadrozny (Reform)
2023 - : Yvette Cooper (Labour)
2023 (Majority) def: Ben Wallace (Conservative), Caroline Pidgeon (Liberal Democrats), Jason Zadrozny (Reform)

The shackles of the Third Way were kicked off by the election of Peter Hain to Labour leader in 2007, a consistent critic of the leaderships of Smith, Straw and Blair, briefly a Minister within the Smith Government and a man who had a habit of being involved in Left Wing cause célèbre’s, Hain represented a dynamic return to the traditional Socialist ideals that the Labour Party had been found upon.

For many there was a sense that this ‘Left’ Labour would lose handily but good luck would prevail. Conservative infighting and worldwide recession as bad as the 98’ crash would ripple across the country and suddenly, Hain’s Left Wing Populist message of change resonated. Beating a lacklustre Liam Fox, Hain would become Prime Minister in 2011 on a platform of Radical Reform and Social Democratic change.

The results would vary.

In hindsight, Hain was never comfortably going to institute the policies of the Socialist Campaign Group, or shift the country significantly to the Left. Not helping matters was Hain’s tense relationship with the Treasury, who weren’t fond of his cabinets push for Neo-Keneysian policies

Additionally there was the lingering air of corruption that permeated throughout Hain’s Premiership, his campaign in 2007 had been funded by a suspicious large amount of mysterious funding and Hain’s support amongst the Trade Unions lead to accusations from the Conservative Press that Hain was in pocket to the Unions. Later investigations found that this was more of the fault of Hain’s campaign team than anything the man himself did but the damage was done.

Still, elements like the ‘Green 2020’ plan and the ‘Help To Work’ schemes were certainly popular and would see the shift of Labour towards an angle of Green Social Democracy during the 2010s. However Hain had to deal with being too soft on the Middle East, being against air strikes in the collapsing Iraq and not supporting President Romney’s Ground Intervention and additionally Hain was seen as too much of a Europhile, being rather friendly with the European Union and supporting further integration on the lines of The Hague Agreement.

This message would be used by the Conservative’s to gain a surprise majority under Tim Collins in 2016, as Anti-European sentiments which were blamed for the sluggish recovery of the economy. Back in opposition, Labour went with the charismatic former Industry and Technology Minister, Tom Watson who to many was considered to be in the centre of the Labour Party.

Proclaiming a Unity platform and a ‘modernisation’ of the Labour Party system, Watson spent much of his time battling out with the Labour Left and finding himself rapidly out of sync with the grassroots who he had once considered some of his firmest supporters. Compounding matters was that Watson was seen as having blown Labour’s response to the Brexit Referendum, whilst the No response won, Watson would bumble on what next and his responses often angered Labour voters in it’s heartlands who would gravitate towards the Reform, a loose coalition of former Conservative’s, Labour and Liberal Democratic MPs United by a Eurosceptic outlook and a Populist view that the major parties had been overtaken by technocratic wonks.

2021 would lead to a surprise result, the Conservative’s kept barely alive through Democratic Unionist support, but Labour seeing loses in it’s heartlands to Reform and in some of it’s city locations to the Greens lead by Molly Scott Cato who campaigned on a Eco-Socialist platform.

Watson would resign, not as popular as he once was and additionally dealing with poor health. In the wake some of the Labour Left proposed supporting the David Prescott campaign, the MP for Mansfield having gained support from Brexit supporting Labour voters on a Left Wing Populist campaign. But a series of allegations of sexual harassment would put a stop to that.

Indeed it was grumpily agreed that Labour should maybe elect a woman now. In a close leadership battle between Dawn Butler and Yvette Cooper, the wonky Cooper bested Butler and would a couple of years later, see Labour returned to power.

However it was a hollow victory, Labour gained a slim majority primarily out of the collapse of the Conservative vote to Reform and voters staying at home. Cooper’s Labour platform of wonky Social Democracy doesn’t particularly inspire and the Green Party has found itself gaining support from disaffected Hain voters. As Cooper’s first year in government continues forward, for many there is pondering if she make the landing and secure Labour another majority…
 
Blackentheborg said:
To be perfectly honest the UKIP thing is entirely based on bias for Clarkson as we know him, being critical of the EU now and generally problematic. Odds are in this timeline he's more pro-EU, but I feel like it fits his character.
Click to expand...
This is what OTL Clarkson was making in 2002, which was pitched as celebrating the implentation of the Euro/taking another look at our neighbours as a consequence. I tend to agree with the others that while the rest of it feels very real, that part just doesn't ring true.

 
Time Enough said:
Reform, a loose coalition of former Conservative’s, Labour and Liberal Democratic MPs United by a Eurosceptic outlook and a Populist view that the major parties had been overtaken by technocratic wonks.
Click to expand...

I've seen a lot of alt-UKIPs, but mirror-universe Change UK is maybe my new favourite take on them.
 
Walpurgisnacht said:
I've seen a lot of alt-UKIPs, but mirror-universe Change UK is maybe my new favourite take on them.
Click to expand...
Thanks, so the vague idea here is that Jack Straw following Smith and the Conservative’s being lead by folks of Portillo stunts the growth of any third party Eurosceptic movement.

My feeling is that the appearance of one would be a later phenomenon, coinciding with a recession and General bad times. With Alt-Brexit going differently too, you get the awkward squads from the different parties deciding to form a new Eurosceptic party. I’m thinking it consists of your Tom Harris, Graham Stringer types with Labour whilst from the Tories it’s your European Research Group oddballs.


I have to say, a ‘John Smith as Labour Prime Minister in the Mid 90s’ idea does open a fun door for a weird 21st Century, that I would like to ponder some more…
 
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