1970 UK General Election

[Dr. Cynic]

Though Labour was able to form another majority government, they were much reduced and after several by-election losses found themselves relying on Liberal support. Callaghan continued on as Prime Minister, but the lack of a solid majority hampered his effectiveness to pass legislation so he chose to go to the country in 1970 before a no-confidence motion could be passed.

Callaghan's government also secured, finally, admission to the EEC and promised to take a referendum before the British public, but this was delayed until after the general election.

The EEC, so far the supreme issue before parliament took a backseat to other issues. The NUPE went on strike for several weeks, leaving several issues like garbage collection to be delayed. Three months later in early 1969, ASLEF struck, grinding to a halt all rail transport. Callaghan, Home Secretary Anthony Crosland and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Barbara Castle could not come up with a satisfactory compromise to break the rail workers strike and this issue left a cloud over Labour's campaign. Callaghan eventually refused to meet the rail workers demands of higher pay and two days less of work a week, which revolted many of the Labour leftists, some of whom broke away to form a new party, the New Union Party, led by Tony Benn, New Union vowed to compete against Labour for the left wing vote. The New Unionists were also deeply anti-EEC, anti-NATO and pro-pricing control, which they felt would successfully combat inflation if a pricing board was set up. The New Union Party gained 14 MPs is running in 140 seats and is backed by several of the more radical unions such as the NUM and ASLEF.

With the loss of his majority, Callaghan called the election and hoped the public would stick with his leadership.

Labour: Still led by Jim Callaghan, they've been hurt by a left-wing defection. Labour is campaigning on a policy of continued reforms to the extremist trade unions and promising to combat inflation. They are also promising the British public the chance to vote on whether Britain officially joins the Common Market.

Conservative: Ted Heath has enjoyed a boost in his popularity as a moderate but tough pragmatic conservative. However, Heath has been overshadowed by Enoch Powell, who has controversially contradicted him in public, forcing Heath to sack him from the shadow cabinet. Heath is promising to do what Callaghan isn't: Take Britain into Europe and stop the extremes of the trade unions.

Liberal: Jo Grimond, exhausted after 15 years leading the Liberal Party, stood down from the leadership and was replaced by Liberal Chief Whip Eric Lubbock. Lubbock and the Liberals are always pro-Europe and are campaigning on a new issue that finally is making it into the public conscience: Proportional Representation. Lubbock also wants to devolve government to better take care of local issues.

New Union: Led by Tony Benn, this breakaway group with 14 hard left MPs is competing in 140 constituencies and thus cannot win the election. Their goals are broadly Nationalist as they are the most firmly anti-EEC party, anti-American sentiment is also high. The party is campaigning on greater rights for trade unionists and centralized planning of the economy.

Well, now we've got something interesting going, hopefully. Go on and have fun voting!

[Supersonic]

Conservative.

Amusing write up of Labour being screwed by the unions.

[Goldwater]

Tories.

[Dr. Cynic]

Conservative.

Amusing write up of Labour being screwed by the unions.

The idea is based sort of on what happened historically to Heath (though obviously different circumstances).

[DC Al Fine]

Tories.

Hopefully New Union will add a bit of spice to the elections. Cynic writes them well, but the standard Lab-Con-Lib makes for boring results.

[Supersonic]

Conservative.

Amusing write up of Labour being screwed by the unions.

The idea is based sort of on what happened historically to Heath (though obviously different circumstances).

Yes, it's delightful.

[Dr. Cynic]

Tories.

Hopefully New Union will add a bit of spice to the elections. Cynic writes them well, but the standard Lab-Con-Lib makes for boring results.

I thought maybe a left wing breakaway from Labour rather than a right wing one would be of interest. If the New Unionists don't do well though, I'll consider something else.

[LastVoter]

Labour

[Peter the Lefty]

Labour again, though hoping Callaghan softens his line against the unions.  Also, wasn't Benn still on the Labour right at this point in rl?

[RogueBeaver]

Tory, reluctantly.

[Dr. Cynic]

Labour again, though hoping Callaghan softens his line against the unions.  Also, wasn't Benn still on the Labour right at this point in rl?

Benn drifted to the left about the time that he first became a minister well before 1970.

[Leftbehind]

New Union, I suppose.  

Their standing in only fourteen constituencies stops the splitting of the Left vote, at least.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Labour again, though hoping Callaghan softens his line against the unions.  Also, wasn't Benn still on the Labour right at this point in rl?

Benn drifted to the left about the time that he first became a minister well before 1970.

It was a slightly odd ramble of a journey, really.

[Dr. Cynic]

New Union, I suppose.  

Their standing in only fourteen constituencies stops the splitting of the Left vote, at least.

They've got 14 MPs, but are standing in 140. They can't win a government no matter what they do and their vote will be weighted.

[Leftbehind]

Oh, sorry, misread. 140 candidates is enough at least to reward their votes and stop them being wasted.

[H. Ross Peron]

Enthusiastic vote for Heath and the Tories.

It'd be funny if Enoch Powell made common cause with New Union...

[Dr. Cynic]

Based on the odds right now, Tories headed for an easy majority. New Union winning 49 seats. Liberals in trouble, down to 9.

Not a whole lot of data yet though.

[Leftbehind]

The 1980's in reverse, I guess.

Given Labour barely won the last election, I think the Tories may sweep up until this split's resolved - hopefully Bennites will realise this and head back, in a strengthened position. 

[TNF]

Easily New Union.

[Leftbehind]

Easily New Union.

Easy principally, tactically it's a nightmare.

[TNF]

Easily New Union.

Easy principally, tactically it's a nightmare.

I think you've summed up just about every vote I've ever considered making.

[Leftbehind]

Won't even have the voter fatigue that seen the poor-third voters (SDP) gradually returning to main-opposition-vehicle (Labour) with each election/Tory landslide to pin our hopes on.

[LastVoter]

I think we can expect New Union to win in the next election if they run 300+ candidates.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Tory

[Dr. Cynic]

New Union is leading in 44 constituencies. They're actually not stealing votes from Labour candidates, they're really smacking the Liberals though and they're lowering the Tory majority.