What if notable by-elections had never occurred?
Jun 21, 2023 18:31:20 GMT
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Post by greenhert on Jun 21, 2023 18:31:20 GMT
Certain parliamentary by-elections in recent history could have easily been avoided, and in some cases the consequences would have been very significant.
The Kensington & Chelsea by-election of 1999, for example, most notable for a comeback by Michael Portillo, would likely not have occurred if Nicholas Scott (Conservative MP for Paddington South from 1966 to February 1974 and Chelsea from October 1974 to 1997) had behaved more responsibly and kept his alcohol problem under control, since he would then have been reselected meaning that Alan Clark would not have been selected for Kensington & Chelsea, and likely not have returned to Parliament at all for that matter. It would also mean that said Michael Portillo would likely not have returned to Parliament in time to be a contender in the Conservative Party's leadership contest of 2001, where he finished 3rd by only 1 vote in the penultimate round (and he led in the first 2 rounds). What impact would this have had?
If Harold Wilson had not nominated Fred Peart to the peerage in 1976, but instead asked for him to simply retire in 1979 and then get a peerage via James Callaghan's Dissolution Honours instead, the Workington by-election of 1976 would not have occurred meaning that the VONC of 1979 could have been avoided.
What are your thoughts?
The Kensington & Chelsea by-election of 1999, for example, most notable for a comeback by Michael Portillo, would likely not have occurred if Nicholas Scott (Conservative MP for Paddington South from 1966 to February 1974 and Chelsea from October 1974 to 1997) had behaved more responsibly and kept his alcohol problem under control, since he would then have been reselected meaning that Alan Clark would not have been selected for Kensington & Chelsea, and likely not have returned to Parliament at all for that matter. It would also mean that said Michael Portillo would likely not have returned to Parliament in time to be a contender in the Conservative Party's leadership contest of 2001, where he finished 3rd by only 1 vote in the penultimate round (and he led in the first 2 rounds). What impact would this have had?
If Harold Wilson had not nominated Fred Peart to the peerage in 1976, but instead asked for him to simply retire in 1979 and then get a peerage via James Callaghan's Dissolution Honours instead, the Workington by-election of 1976 would not have occurred meaning that the VONC of 1979 could have been avoided.
What are your thoughts?
