Keeping the British Liberal Party flag flying high
- Thread starter pipisme
- Start date
Thank you for pointing out the mistake. The percentages on the third ballot were:
Nash: 53.1.
Campbell: 46.9
Liberal Party leadership election and government changes
The number of Liberal MPs who nominated each candidate in the leadership election were:
Menzies Campbell: 29
Russell Johnston: 22
Bethan Nash: 18
Michael Meadowcroft: 14.
Among the Liberal MPs who nominated each leadership candidate were :
Ming Campbell: Paddy Ashdown, Tom Brake, Lynne Featherstone, Malcolm Bruce, Nigel Jones, Charles Kennedy, Andy Kirkwood, Liz Lynne, Ray Michie, David Rendel, Adrian Sanders.
Russell Johnston: Desmond Banks, Brian Cotter, Mark Oaten, Michael Moore, Chris Patten, John Patten, William Rodgers, David Steel, Jim Wallace.
Michael Meadowcroft: David Alton, Ronnie Fearn, Paul Tyler, Richard Wainwright.
Bethan Nash: Nick Harvey, Simon Hughes, Richard Livsey, Manuela Sykes, Jenny Tonge.
David Penhaligon did not nominate any candidate. In the vote by Liberal Party members, Campbell came first in Scotland, and second in Wales. Nash came first in Wales and second in Scotland, just ahead of Johnston. Meadowcroft came first in Yorkshire. Johnston did not come first or second in any region.
On 30 September 1991, Alfred Morris appointed Bethan Nash Environment Secretary. He also made the following changes :
Peter Tatchell from Environment Secretary to Social Welfare Secretary
Michael Meadowcroft from Social Welfare Secretary to Prices and Consumer Protection Secretary
Denzil Davies from Prices and Consumer Protection Secretary to Transport Secretary in place of William Rodgers, who resigned.
Menzies Campbell: 29
Russell Johnston: 22
Bethan Nash: 18
Michael Meadowcroft: 14.
Among the Liberal MPs who nominated each leadership candidate were :
Ming Campbell: Paddy Ashdown, Tom Brake, Lynne Featherstone, Malcolm Bruce, Nigel Jones, Charles Kennedy, Andy Kirkwood, Liz Lynne, Ray Michie, David Rendel, Adrian Sanders.
Russell Johnston: Desmond Banks, Brian Cotter, Mark Oaten, Michael Moore, Chris Patten, John Patten, William Rodgers, David Steel, Jim Wallace.
Michael Meadowcroft: David Alton, Ronnie Fearn, Paul Tyler, Richard Wainwright.
Bethan Nash: Nick Harvey, Simon Hughes, Richard Livsey, Manuela Sykes, Jenny Tonge.
David Penhaligon did not nominate any candidate. In the vote by Liberal Party members, Campbell came first in Scotland, and second in Wales. Nash came first in Wales and second in Scotland, just ahead of Johnston. Meadowcroft came first in Yorkshire. Johnston did not come first or second in any region.
On 30 September 1991, Alfred Morris appointed Bethan Nash Environment Secretary. He also made the following changes :
Peter Tatchell from Environment Secretary to Social Welfare Secretary
Michael Meadowcroft from Social Welfare Secretary to Prices and Consumer Protection Secretary
Denzil Davies from Prices and Consumer Protection Secretary to Transport Secretary in place of William Rodgers, who resigned.
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The number of seats in each of the nations of the UK won by each party, in the general election of June 1991 were as follows:
England:
Conservative: 250
Labour: 189
Liberal: 72
Speaker: 1
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Total: 512
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Northern Ireland:
Ulster Unionist: 7
Progressive: 6
NILP: 4
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Total: 17
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Scotland:
Labour: 41
Liberal: 11
SNP: 9
Conservative: 7
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Total: 68
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Wales:
Labour: 25
Liberal: 5
Conservative : 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
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Total: 36
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England:
Conservative: 250
Labour: 189
Liberal: 72
Speaker: 1
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Total: 512
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Northern Ireland:
Ulster Unionist: 7
Progressive: 6
NILP: 4
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Total: 17
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Scotland:
Labour: 41
Liberal: 11
SNP: 9
Conservative: 7
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Total: 68
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Wales:
Labour: 25
Liberal: 5
Conservative : 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
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Total: 36
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Bethan Nash believed strongly in the principles and values of the co-operative movement. She shopped at Co-op shops and banked with the Co- operative bank. She could not be a member of the Co-operative Party because she was a member of the Liberal Party, but would have liked that party to be open to those who shared its values, whatever their party. There were 33 Labour and Co-operative MPs elected in the June 1991 general election.
Conservative Party leadership election July 1991
On 8 July 1991, Geoffrey Howe announced to the media his intention to resign to resign as leader of the Conservative Party when Conservative MPs had elected. He said at 64 years old (he was born on 20 December 1986), it was time to make way for a younger time.
The three candidates in the leadership election were Anthony Blair, shadow Employment Secretary (born 6 May 1953); John Gummer, shadow Environment Secretary (born 26 November 1939); and Douglas Hurd, shadow Home Secretary (born 8 March 1930).
The three candidates in the leadership election were Anthony Blair, shadow Employment Secretary (born 6 May 1953); John Gummer, shadow Environment Secretary (born 26 November 1939); and Douglas Hurd, shadow Home Secretary (born 8 March 1930).
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Conservative Party leadership election July 1991
Anthony Blair was elected Conservative MP for Dorking in the October 1983 general election. He divided opinion in the Conservative Party. To some Tories he was charismatic and a brilliant and inspirational speaker. To others he was superficial with no substance. His wife, Laura, was a beautiful woman. They had two young sons.
John Gummer was Conservative MP for Lewisham North from June 1969 to June 1986, when he lost the seat to the Liberals. He returned to the House of Commons as MP for Epping Forest in the by-election on 15 December 1988, caused by the death of John Biggs-Davison. He was in the shadow cabinet from October 1979, except for the time he was not an MP.
After a career in the dlplomatic service, Douglas Hurd was elected Conservative MP for Woodstock in the June 1974 general election. He was in the shadow cabinet from the 1980s onwards.
The first ballot of Conservative MPs was held on 15 July 1991. The number of votes for each candidate were:
Blair: 104
Gummer: 84
Hurd: 72
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Total: 260
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Hurd was eliminated from the contest.
John Gummer was Conservative MP for Lewisham North from June 1969 to June 1986, when he lost the seat to the Liberals. He returned to the House of Commons as MP for Epping Forest in the by-election on 15 December 1988, caused by the death of John Biggs-Davison. He was in the shadow cabinet from October 1979, except for the time he was not an MP.
After a career in the dlplomatic service, Douglas Hurd was elected Conservative MP for Woodstock in the June 1974 general election. He was in the shadow cabinet from the 1980s onwards.
The first ballot of Conservative MPs was held on 15 July 1991. The number of votes for each candidate were:
Blair: 104
Gummer: 84
Hurd: 72
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Total: 260
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Hurd was eliminated from the contest.
Conservative Party leadership election July 1991
How Hurd's voters would go was the key to the Conservative leadership election. The consensus among political commeentators was that most of them would vote for Gummer in the second round on 22 July 1991. He had the support of most of the shadow cabinet, and the Chief Whip. There was also the feeling Blair was too young. If he were elected, he might be leader for twenty years.
The Blair team claimed that only he could win the next election for the Tories by winning over Labour and Liberal voters, and that those parties believed he was the greater threat to them. He advocated reform of leadership election rules so that future leaders were elected by Conservative Party members. He claimed it was time for a New Conservatism
The number of votes for each candidate in the second ballot were:
Gummer: 135
Blair: 125
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Total: 260
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So John Gummer was elected leader of the Conservative Party and became leader of the Opposition. (1). Blair did better than most people expected. In ten years time he would be only 48 years old, which is relatively young in political terms.
(1) Here is his entry in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gummer.
The Blair team claimed that only he could win the next election for the Tories by winning over Labour and Liberal voters, and that those parties believed he was the greater threat to them. He advocated reform of leadership election rules so that future leaders were elected by Conservative Party members. He claimed it was time for a New Conservatism
The number of votes for each candidate in the second ballot were:
Gummer: 135
Blair: 125
--------------
Total: 260
--------------
So John Gummer was elected leader of the Conservative Party and became leader of the Opposition. (1). Blair did better than most people expected. In ten years time he would be only 48 years old, which is relatively young in political terms.
(1) Here is his entry in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gummer.
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The other parties were pleased that Gummer was the new leader of the Conservative Party, rather than Anthony Blair. Gummer reshuffled his shadow cabinet. He moved Blair from shadow Employment Secretary to shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, John Major from trade and industry to shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Kenneth Clarke from shadow Chancellor to shadow Foreign Secretary. He appointed Gillian Shepherd shadow Environment Secretary and Peter Lilley shadow Employment Secretary.
The Labour/Liberal coalition government raised the school leaving age from 16 to 17. It also increased spending on health, and funding for local authority social services budgets.
The Labour/Liberal coalition government raised the school leaving age from 16 to 17. It also increased spending on health, and funding for local authority social services budgets.
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Labour/Liberal government legislation, congestion charges
Among the legislation passed by the Labour/Liberal coalition government were the following: the Countryside Act 1992 which gave the right of access to four million acres of formerly closed areas of mountains, moorland, downland and heath; the Access to Rivers Act 1993 gave a public right of access to non-tidal rivers; the Housing Act 1992 gave council tenants the right to part rent, part buy their homes.
Also a tax on currency speculation was introduced in 1992. The annual car tax for cars up to 1600 c.c was drastically reduced. It was paid for by raising fuel duty. City councils in England were empowered to introduce congestion charges. Those in Scotland and Wales already had been given that power by the governments of those nations, and there were congestion charges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff. By 1995, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield had imposed congestion charges.
Also a tax on currency speculation was introduced in 1992. The annual car tax for cars up to 1600 c.c was drastically reduced. It was paid for by raising fuel duty. City councils in England were empowered to introduce congestion charges. Those in Scotland and Wales already had been given that power by the governments of those nations, and there were congestion charges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff. By 1995, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield had imposed congestion charges.
Scottish general election October 1990
A general election for the Scottish Parliament took place on 1 October 1990. The number of seats won by each party were (1986 general election):
Conservative: 39 (37)
Labour: 33 (40)
SNP: 30 (22)
Liberal: 19 (22)
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Total: 121 (121)
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73 MSPs were elected in single member constituencies by first past the post, and 48 in eight six member regional constituencies in party lists by Additional Member System. Before the election , there were boundary changes for the single member constituencies.
In the days after the election, talks took place between the parties as to which party or parties would form the next government. The Conservatives claimed that it should be them as they were the largest party.
Conservative: 39 (37)
Labour: 33 (40)
SNP: 30 (22)
Liberal: 19 (22)
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Total: 121 (121)
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73 MSPs were elected in single member constituencies by first past the post, and 48 in eight six member regional constituencies in party lists by Additional Member System. Before the election , there were boundary changes for the single member constituencies.
In the days after the election, talks took place between the parties as to which party or parties would form the next government. The Conservatives claimed that it should be them as they were the largest party.
Scottish government, Welsh general election May 1991
In Scotland the Liberals agreed to give confidence and supply to a Conservative minority government. The Labour/Liberal coalition resigned and the Conservative leader, David McLetchie became First Minister. (1)
A general election for the Welsh Parliament was held on 2 May 1991. The number of seats won by each party were as follows (May 1987 general election):
Labour: 29 (27)
Plaid Cymru: 12 (13)
Liberal: 11 (13)
Conservative: 9 (8)
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Total: 61 (61)
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There were 36 single member constituencies with election by first past the post, and 5 regional constituencies which each elected a total of 25 members (5 members for each constituency) by Additional Member System by party lists. Before the election there were boundary changes for the single member constituencies.
The Labour/Liberal coalition continued in office with Caerwyn Roderick (Labour) as First Minister, and Jenny Randerson (Liberal) as Deputy First Minister.
(1) Here is the Wikipedia entry for McLetchie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McLetchie.
A general election for the Welsh Parliament was held on 2 May 1991. The number of seats won by each party were as follows (May 1987 general election):
Labour: 29 (27)
Plaid Cymru: 12 (13)
Liberal: 11 (13)
Conservative: 9 (8)
-----------------
Total: 61 (61)
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There were 36 single member constituencies with election by first past the post, and 5 regional constituencies which each elected a total of 25 members (5 members for each constituency) by Additional Member System by party lists. Before the election there were boundary changes for the single member constituencies.
The Labour/Liberal coalition continued in office with Caerwyn Roderick (Labour) as First Minister, and Jenny Randerson (Liberal) as Deputy First Minister.
(1) Here is the Wikipedia entry for McLetchie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McLetchie.
Kathe Fischer
Kathe Fischer, Rosa Bancroft's beloved friend, died on 13 September 1992. She was 93 years old, having been born on 21 May 1899. She was chief costume designer for Deutches Nationaltheater in Berlin until she retired when she was 65 years in May 1974. She was also active in the German Social Democratic Party. (1)
Kathe's funeral was at the Rykestrasse Synagogue in Berlin. (2) Her children and grandchildren were there, and also Rosa.
(1) They are fictional persons.
(2) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rykestrasse_Synagogue.
Kathe's funeral was at the Rykestrasse Synagogue in Berlin. (2) Her children and grandchildren were there, and also Rosa.
(1) They are fictional persons.
(2) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rykestrasse_Synagogue.
Kathe Fischer
A second edition of Kathe Fischer's autobiography, Seventy Years Through Joys and Sorrows in English translation, was published in November 1992. It had an Introduction by her granddaughter, Kathe Elias (nee Rosenbaum), the eldest daughter of her daughter, Sophie.
It gives a unque perspective on life as a Jewish women in Germany in most of the twentieth century, and combines the personal and the political. She was born Kathe Dienemann to a working class Jewish family in Berlin on 21 May 1899. They were not particularly observant in their religiius practice.
It gives a unque perspective on life as a Jewish women in Germany in most of the twentieth century, and combines the personal and the political. She was born Kathe Dienemann to a working class Jewish family in Berlin on 21 May 1899. They were not particularly observant in their religiius practice.
Kathe Fischer
Kathe Fischer was an idealistic young socialist on the left wimg of the Social Democratic Party. She opposed the Great War. Karl Liebkneckt and Rosa Luxembourg were her heroes. She was talented in sewing and making clothes. When she left school she got a job as a costume designer with Deutches Nationaltheater in Berlin. She witnessed the abdication of Wilhelm II, the establishment of the Weimar Republic, and the brutal crushing by the German army of the Communist uprising in Berlin led by the Spartacus League.
She married Wilhelm Fischer, a fellow activist with the SPD, in Berlin on 16 September 1920. He was a Lutheran, and sympathetic to Judaism. They had two sons and a daughter. She says in her book that she enjoyed making love with Wilhelm, and used contraception to limit the number of their children.
She had a good job which was protected from the Great Depression. She witnessed the rise of the Nazi Party from 1930. She heard Hitler and Goebbels on the radio. In elections she and her husband campaigned for the SPD. They believed that the Great Depression would lead to a fascist revolution, but never expected that Hindenburg would appoint Hitler Chancellor. She writes eloquently about campaigning with her husband, Wilhelm for the SPD in the general election of March 1933, with danger of arrest by the police. In fact Wilhelm, was imprisoned in a 'wild' concentration camp from April to August 1933.
She describes the growing restrictions on Jewish life from 1933 onwards, and the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 which deprived Jews of German citizenshlp. Her Jewish faith became more important to her. She was a Liberal Jew and belonged to the Einheitsgemeinde (United Communities). She was not a Zionist.
She married Wilhelm Fischer, a fellow activist with the SPD, in Berlin on 16 September 1920. He was a Lutheran, and sympathetic to Judaism. They had two sons and a daughter. She says in her book that she enjoyed making love with Wilhelm, and used contraception to limit the number of their children.
She had a good job which was protected from the Great Depression. She witnessed the rise of the Nazi Party from 1930. She heard Hitler and Goebbels on the radio. In elections she and her husband campaigned for the SPD. They believed that the Great Depression would lead to a fascist revolution, but never expected that Hindenburg would appoint Hitler Chancellor. She writes eloquently about campaigning with her husband, Wilhelm for the SPD in the general election of March 1933, with danger of arrest by the police. In fact Wilhelm, was imprisoned in a 'wild' concentration camp from April to August 1933.
She describes the growing restrictions on Jewish life from 1933 onwards, and the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 which deprived Jews of German citizenshlp. Her Jewish faith became more important to her. She was a Liberal Jew and belonged to the Einheitsgemeinde (United Communities). She was not a Zionist.
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Kathe Fischer, Germany
In her autobiography, Kathe Fischer writes that she was dismissed from her job with Deutches Nationaltheatre in Berlin because she was Jewish. In early October 1938, her daughter, Sophie, was brutally beaten up by a gang of Hitler Youth. Her husband, Wilhelm, was active in the Neu Beginnen anti-Nazi resistance group. (1) It was destroyed in the autumn of 1938. For that reason, and after the attack on Sophie, Kathe, Wilhelm and their children went to live in London in October 1938. There they met Rosa Bancroft through their contacts in the Labour Party, Rosa became friends with Kathe and Sophie, though she was about 19 years and seven months younger than Kathe. They returned to Berlin on 20 March 1939, after the democratic revolution which overthrew the Nazi regime. Kathe returned to her job as a costume designer with the Deutches Nationaltheater. She was later promoted to head costume designer.
Kathe writes about the German Civil War in which the remnants of the Nazi regime, based in Konigsberg, East Prussia, tried to regain control of all of Germany. Berlin was bombed and there was fighting in the city. After the war had ended, the Black Wolf Nazi terrorist group were responsible for atrocities in 1942 and 1943 which killed or injured hundreds of people. She describes life in the free, democratic and prosperous German Federation.
She always voted SPD except in the second round of the 1925 presidential election when she voted for Wilhelm Marx, the 1932 presidential election when she voted for Hindenburg.
(2) For Neu Beginnen see posts #829 and 830 on page 42. It existed in OTL.
Kathe writes about the German Civil War in which the remnants of the Nazi regime, based in Konigsberg, East Prussia, tried to regain control of all of Germany. Berlin was bombed and there was fighting in the city. After the war had ended, the Black Wolf Nazi terrorist group were responsible for atrocities in 1942 and 1943 which killed or injured hundreds of people. She describes life in the free, democratic and prosperous German Federation.
She always voted SPD except in the second round of the 1925 presidential election when she voted for Wilhelm Marx, the 1932 presidential election when she voted for Hindenburg.
(2) For Neu Beginnen see posts #829 and 830 on page 42. It existed in OTL.
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Archbishops of Westminster
The first women priests in the Church of England were ordained in 1986. Christopher Butler retired as Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster in May 1982, when he reached the age of 80. He was succeeded by the Archbishop of Liverpool, Derek Worlock. (1) He was archbishop until his death on 8 February 1996. He was succeeded by Timothy Radcliffe OP, the Master-General of the Dominican Order. (2)
(1) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Worlock.
(2) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Radcliffe.
(1) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Worlock.
(2) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Radcliffe.
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