Are you sure about your figures for Tory seats? 180 plus 66 is 246.
Don't know what happened there.
Gone the Dream Ticket
- Thread starter AlfieJ
- Start date
Don't know what happened there.
GONE THE DREAM TICKET (PART NINE)
By 2003 fatigue of the Labour Government had become the feeling among the majority of voters. Gordon Brown had resigned three years before, leaving office as a respected and influential figure, though not in league of “greats” like Thatcher, Churchill, Smith and Attlee. The long serving Deputy Leader and Prime Minister Robin Cook swiftly succeeded him after a tight battle with the Foreign Secretary Tony Blair and Chancellor Alistair Darling. Cook proved to be an unsuccessful PM, despite his clear knowledge and experience he seemed out of his depth when it came to PMQs and important events. His poor handling of the London Attacks in 2001 ultimately sealed his fate in the polls as many called for action and harsher stances on terrorism. The largest march in history was held shortly before the general election calling for Britain to help America’s military action in Afghanistan and shortly after Tony Blair resigned as Foreign Secretary.
Thus on 1st May 2003, Malcolm Rifkind led the Conservative Party to a shoo in victory, becoming the first Conservative Prime Minister in nearly fifteen years.
Labour: 249 (-101)
Democratic: 49 (-14)
Ulster Unionist: 2 (-4)
SNP: 5 (NC)
Plaid Cymru: 4 (NC)
SDLP: 3 (NC)
Sinn Fein: 4 (NC)
Democratic Unionist: 9 (+4)
Subsequent Prime Minister: Malcolm Rifkind
Government: Conservative Majority
By 2003 fatigue of the Labour Government had become the feeling among the majority of voters. Gordon Brown had resigned three years before, leaving office as a respected and influential figure, though not in league of “greats” like Thatcher, Churchill, Smith and Attlee. The long serving Deputy Leader and Prime Minister Robin Cook swiftly succeeded him after a tight battle with the Foreign Secretary Tony Blair and Chancellor Alistair Darling. Cook proved to be an unsuccessful PM, despite his clear knowledge and experience he seemed out of his depth when it came to PMQs and important events. His poor handling of the London Attacks in 2001 ultimately sealed his fate in the polls as many called for action and harsher stances on terrorism. The largest march in history was held shortly before the general election calling for Britain to help America’s military action in Afghanistan and shortly after Tony Blair resigned as Foreign Secretary.
Thus on 1st May 2003, Malcolm Rifkind led the Conservative Party to a shoo in victory, becoming the first Conservative Prime Minister in nearly fifteen years.
2003 UK GENERAL ELECTION
Conservative: 335 (+119)
Conservative: 335 (+119)
Labour: 249 (-101)
Democratic: 49 (-14)
Ulster Unionist: 2 (-4)
SNP: 5 (NC)
Plaid Cymru: 4 (NC)
SDLP: 3 (NC)
Sinn Fein: 4 (NC)
Democratic Unionist: 9 (+4)
Subsequent Prime Minister: Malcolm Rifkind
Government: Conservative Majority
GONE THE DREAM TICKET (PART TEN)
The economic crisis that engulfed Britain and the world in 2007/8 and Malcolm Rifkind’s decision not to call a snap election during the Conservative Party’s “Second Honeymoon” following the assassination of Osama Bin Laden and the declared victory in Afghanistan in May 2007 ultimately cost not only Rifkind’s future as Prime Minister but the Conservative Parties very position as one of the two major parties in Britain.
Following a more or less successful term in office and the victory over Terrorism in the Middle East the economic crisis that caused the collapse of several banks, the Pound Sterling and the Euro left the Tories in a position of constant third place in the polls. Labour’s dynamic leader Peter Mandeslon’s campaign of “New Labour, New Britain, New Hope” tore apart the government on the campaign trail. The Democrats, led by the young David Laws was also able to gain huge boosts of support following the crisis and were even able to position themselves as a “left alternative” to both major parties.
By the morning of 1st May 2008, the political landscape of Britain had changed forever. The Conservatives were pummelled, Labour soared and the Demorcats broke records. Malcolm Rifkind hurried out the back door of No. 10, already drafting his resignation letter as the Torries were thumped to an unprecedented third place. David Laws, was famously carried through the streets of Westminister by his newly elected colleagues as he prepared to take his place as the new leader of the House of Commons. Peter Mandelson marched through the doors of No.10 as the first gay Prime Minister and with the largest parliamentary majority since 1931, promising a new age of hope, prosperity and social progress. He has been there ever since.
The economic crisis that engulfed Britain and the world in 2007/8 and Malcolm Rifkind’s decision not to call a snap election during the Conservative Party’s “Second Honeymoon” following the assassination of Osama Bin Laden and the declared victory in Afghanistan in May 2007 ultimately cost not only Rifkind’s future as Prime Minister but the Conservative Parties very position as one of the two major parties in Britain.
Following a more or less successful term in office and the victory over Terrorism in the Middle East the economic crisis that caused the collapse of several banks, the Pound Sterling and the Euro left the Tories in a position of constant third place in the polls. Labour’s dynamic leader Peter Mandeslon’s campaign of “New Labour, New Britain, New Hope” tore apart the government on the campaign trail. The Democrats, led by the young David Laws was also able to gain huge boosts of support following the crisis and were even able to position themselves as a “left alternative” to both major parties.
By the morning of 1st May 2008, the political landscape of Britain had changed forever. The Conservatives were pummelled, Labour soared and the Demorcats broke records. Malcolm Rifkind hurried out the back door of No. 10, already drafting his resignation letter as the Torries were thumped to an unprecedented third place. David Laws, was famously carried through the streets of Westminister by his newly elected colleagues as he prepared to take his place as the new leader of the House of Commons. Peter Mandelson marched through the doors of No.10 as the first gay Prime Minister and with the largest parliamentary majority since 1931, promising a new age of hope, prosperity and social progress. He has been there ever since.
2008 UK GENERAL ELECTION
Labour: 416 (+167)
Democratic: 109 (+60)
Conservative: 100 (-235)
SNP: 6 (+1)
Plaid Cymru: 3 (-1)
SDLP: 4 (+1)
Sinn Fein: 4 (+1)
Democratic Unionist: 9 (-1)
Subsequent Prime Minister: Peter Mandelson
Government: Labour Majority
Labour: 416 (+167)
Democratic: 109 (+60)
Conservative: 100 (-235)
SNP: 6 (+1)
Plaid Cymru: 3 (-1)
SDLP: 4 (+1)
Sinn Fein: 4 (+1)
Democratic Unionist: 9 (-1)
Subsequent Prime Minister: Peter Mandelson
Government: Labour Majority
THE END
It was fun and interesting, if a bit on the quite side as to actual policy. Labour going into the financial crisis with over 400 seats and a divided opposition...
Will it be a New Labour Neoliberal orthodoxy, built from the history of the New Labour moment as a 90's brand? Or is that eschewed for a more Keynesian response?
With Laws as the Democrat Party head, expect a rigorous adherence to the austerity mantra. There is space on the left in this timeline where the "Liberal Democrats contain ex-Tories like Ken Clarke.
Will it be a New Labour Neoliberal orthodoxy, built from the history of the New Labour moment as a 90's brand? Or is that eschewed for a more Keynesian response?
With Laws as the Democrat Party head, expect a rigorous adherence to the austerity mantra. There is space on the left in this timeline where the "Liberal Democrats contain ex-Tories like Ken Clarke.
1987
Norman Tebbit (Conservative): 310
Roy Hattersley (Labour): 277
David Steel/David Owen (Alliance): 40
1989
John Smith (Labour): 339
Norman Tebbit (Conservative): 236
David Penhaligon (Democratic): 56
1994
Gordon Brown (Labour): 382
John Major (Conservative): 180
Paddy Ashdown (Democratic): 67
1998
Gordon Brown (Labour): 350
Michael Portillo (Conservative): 216
Ken Clarke (Democratic): 63
2003
Malcolm Rifkind (Conservative): 335
Robin Cook (Labour): 249
Unknown (Democratic): 49
2008
Peter Mandelson (Labour): 416
David Laws (Democratic): 109
Malcolm Rifkind (Conservative): 100
Norman Tebbit (Conservative): 310
Roy Hattersley (Labour): 277
David Steel/David Owen (Alliance): 40
1989
John Smith (Labour): 339
Norman Tebbit (Conservative): 236
David Penhaligon (Democratic): 56
1994
Gordon Brown (Labour): 382
John Major (Conservative): 180
Paddy Ashdown (Democratic): 67
1998
Gordon Brown (Labour): 350
Michael Portillo (Conservative): 216
Ken Clarke (Democratic): 63
2003
Malcolm Rifkind (Conservative): 335
Robin Cook (Labour): 249
Unknown (Democratic): 49
2008
Peter Mandelson (Labour): 416
David Laws (Democratic): 109
Malcolm Rifkind (Conservative): 100