Presidents of the British Republic

[big bad fab]

Let's say that, in 1945, with a post-war reformist spirit, the Labour government is able to transform the United Kingdom in a United Republic of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In the new written Constitution, a president is created, on the (future...) German model.
Each 5 years, the House of Commons elects a president with a mostly ceremonial role.

But, of course, he may return a small role of influence and moral reference.

The first election takes place in 1945.

Make a list of presidents up to now !

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Hard one, but I'll try

1st: Stafford Cripps (L). 1945-1950
2nd: Herbert Morrison (L), 1950-1955
3rd: Winston Churchill (C), 1955-1965, died in office
William Morrison, acting as Commons Speaker

Damm, I have no idea what's latter...

[big bad fab]

Hard one, but I'll try

1st: Stafford Cripps (L). 1945-1950
2nd: Herbert Morrison (L), 1950-1955
3rd: Winston Churchill (C), 1955-1965, died in office
William Morrison, acting as Commons Speaker

Damm, I have no idea what's latter...

You've noticed I haven't made any proposition myself...

[big bad fab]

Indeed, I may have posted a too difficult topic... because many likely candidates are too young, too old, died, too much in "action", etc to be picked when you want...

Gaitskell, Butler, Castle, Whitelaw, Jenkins, Patten, Heseltine, etc (even Mountbatten !) would all have made interesting presidents. But that doesn't match.

So, one line may be this one:
(just remember the first elections took place in December from 1945 to 1960, but in February from 1965 on, because of Churchill's death... that's important in 1970 and 1990, of course...)

1945-1950: Arthur Greenwood
1950-1955: Stafford Cripps
1955-1965: Winston Churchill
1965-1970: George Isaacs
1970-1975: Michael Stewart
1975-1980: Lord Gerald Gardiner
1980-1985: Harold McMillan
1985-1995: Lord Peter Carrington
1995-2000: Sir Geoffrey Howe
2000-2005: Neil Kinnock
2005-...: Jack Straw

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Indeed, I may have posted a too difficult topic... because many likely candidates are too young, too old, died, too much in "action", etc to be picked when you want...

Gaitskell, Butler, Castle, Whitelaw, Jenkins, Patten, Heseltine, etc (even Mountbatten !) would all have made interesting presidents. But that doesn't match.

So, one line may be this one:
(just remember the first elections took place in December from 1945 to 1960, but in February from 1965 on, because of Churchill's death... that's important in 1970 and 1990, of course...)

1945-1950: Arthur Greenwood
1950-1955: Stafford Cripps
1955-1965: Winston Churchill
1965-1970: George Isaacs
1970-1975: Michael Stewart
1975-1980: Lord Gerald Gardiner
1980-1985: Harold McMillan
1985-1995: Lord Peter Carrington
1995-2000: Sir Geoffrey Howe
2000-2005: Neil Kinnock
2005-...: Jack Straw

I thought there are no more Sirs and Lords anymore

Anyway, good list

[big bad fab]

Indeed, I may have posted a too difficult topic... because many likely candidates are too young, too old, died, too much in "action", etc to be picked when you want...

Gaitskell, Butler, Castle, Whitelaw, Jenkins, Patten, Heseltine, etc (even Mountbatten !) would all have made interesting presidents. But that doesn't match.

So, one line may be this one:
(just remember the first elections took place in December from 1945 to 1960, but in February from 1965 on, because of Churchill's death... that's important in 1970 and 1990, of course...)

1945-1950: Arthur Greenwood
1950-1955: Stafford Cripps
1955-1965: Winston Churchill
1965-1970: George Isaacs
1970-1975: Michael Stewart
1975-1980: Lord Gerald Gardiner
1980-1985: Harold McMillan
1985-1995: Lord Peter Carrington
1995-2000: Sir Geoffrey Howe
2000-2005: Neil Kinnock
2005-...: Jack Straw

1990 (even before): I would have well seen Whitelaw as president, but Maggie needed him elsewhere...

In 1995, Heseltine would have been fine, but it would have changed too much the real history.
With my list, the main "victim" is NATO, with Carrington
Jack Straw is now a bit mroe on the side, so he could have been president as well.
Stafford Cripps in 1950 had already made the most part of his career.