Where there is Discord - 1984 Conservative Leadership Election

[Lumine]

May 1984

In the first open contest in 1965,
the Conservatives choose a new Prime Minister

CONTEXT: Having already become one of Britain's longest serving Prime Ministers, Edward Heath made a conscious decision to retire in early 1984, ensuring the need for a leadership contest whilst giving any potential successor about a year and a half to make his mark. Eight years in office - four as a majority government - have allowed the Conservatives to somewhat preserve the post-war consensus, but at a cost. In spite of a strong economy, with Heath's voluntary resignation as Prime Minister his successor will face very tough questions regarding the IRA and the unions, as well as the future direction of the Conservative Party. With the Heathites having dominated the party for the past two decades, both their faction and their new challengers will compete for the votes of Conservative MPs.

The Candidates:

Peter Walker: Chancellor of the Exchequer and architect of the ongoing recovery, the skillful - and relatively younger - Walker is one of the two leading Heathite candidates, and the one most associated with a firm continuation of Heath's policies. Walker argues the Conservatives are the "natural party of government" and must remain so in the eyes of the public, and champions One Nation conservatism, economic Keynesianism and curbing unemployment, moderate environmentalism, restoring law and order in Northern Ireland, and a pro-Europe and pro-Commonwealth foreign policy.

Jim Prior: Home Secretary and another key Heath ally, the approachable Prior is the other Heathite candidate, but favors further moving towards the political centre in order to neutralize both Labour and Democratic Labour at the next election. Also championing One Nation Conservative, economic Keynesianism, and strong economic ties to Europe, Prior is in favor of a more consensual strategy in Northern Ireland, and crucially, argues in favor of the Conservatives establishing a stronger and friendlier relationship with the moderate trade unions to end industrial strife.

Geoffrey Howe: Industry Secretary, the mild mannered and patient Howe provides a curious mixture of Heathite and Monetarist beliefs, arguing in favor of a more ambitious programme being needed in order to transform Britain. While retaining a pro-Europe and social moderate mindset Howe favors economic Monetarism, fiscal conservatism and privatization, arguing the expansion of the free market will add much needed dynamism to the British economy. Howe also argues in favor of restoring the Special Relationship, believing there is common ground to be found with President Rumsfeld.

John Biffen: Former Energy Secretary, the outspoken Biffen is the standard bearer of the Conservative monetarist right, seeking to seize control over the party after the failed 1975 challenge. This wing advocates both for an economic agenda of transformation coupled with a move towards open Euroscepticism, which he believes has been shown to be the mainstream view. As a result, Biffen stands for social liberalism, immigration restrictions, moderate economic Monetarism and privatization, and a Eurosceptic and pro-Special Relationship foreign policy.

Two days.

[KaiserDave]

Prior or Walker
Let’s go with Prior!

[S019]

Prior

[Alcibiades]

Prior

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Peter Walker to add dynamism since all the other left-of-centre imposters are voting Prior. Also environmental focus is good.

[Lumine]

A few hours left, currently a Prior landslide.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Will this continue?

[Lumine]

Will this continue?

Yes! But I'm currently busy with other stuff, so it will take a few days or a couple of weeks.

[Lumine]

Prior is elected Prime Minister.