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The Prime Ministers Who Never Were: A History of the Nearly-Theres

Christian Carter

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Published in The Prime Ministers Who Never Were: A Collection Of Political Counterfactuals

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In the annals of British politics, there are a number of individuals who came tantalizingly close to becoming Prime Minister but ultimately fell short. These are the nearly-theres, the also-rans, the also-rans, the also-rans.

The Prime Ministers Who Never Were: A Collection of Political Counterfactuals

by Francis Beckett

4 out of 5

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Some of these politicians were household names, while others are now largely forgotten. But all of them had the talent, the ambition, and the drive to reach the highest office in the land. So what went wrong?

In some cases, it was simply a matter of bad timing. These politicians were born in the wrong era, or they were simply overshadowed by a more charismatic or popular rival.

In other cases, it was a matter of self-sabotage. These politicians made mistakes that cost them dearly, or they simply failed to live up to the expectations of their supporters.

Whatever the reason, these politicians never quite managed to reach the top. But their stories are still worth telling, as they provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of British politics.

The Nearly-Theres

Here is a list of some of the most famous nearly-theres in British political history:

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898): Gladstone was one of the most successful politicians of the 19th century, serving as Prime Minister four times. However, he also lost four general elections, and he never quite managed to secure a clear majority in the House of Commons.
Michael Heseltine (born 1933): Heseltine was one of the most popular and charismatic politicians of the 1980s and 1990s. He served as Deputy Prime Minister under Margaret Thatcher, and he came close to winning the Conservative leadership election in 1990. However, he ultimately lost out to John Major.
David Miliband (born 1965): Miliband was one of the most promising politicians of his generation. He served as Foreign Secretary under Gordon Brown, and he was considered to be the frontrunner in the Labour leadership election of 2010. However, he ultimately lost out to his brother, Ed Miliband.
Ed Miliband (born 1969): Miliband was the leader of the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015. He led the party to defeat in the 2015 general election, and he resigned as leader shortly afterwards.
Gordon Brown (born 1951): Brown served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. He led the Labour Party to defeat in the 2010 general election, and he resigned as leader shortly afterwards.
Tony Blair (born 1953): Blair served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007. He led the Labour Party to three consecutive general election victories, and he is considered to be one of the most successful Prime Ministers in recent British history.
John Major (born 1943): Major served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997. He led the Conservative Party to defeat in the 1997 general election, and he resigned as leader shortly afterwards.
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013): Thatcher served as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. She led the Conservative Party to three consecutive general election victories, and she is considered to be one of the most successful Prime Ministers in recent British history.
James Callaghan (1912-2005): Callaghan served as Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979. He led the Labour Party to defeat in the 1979 general election, and he resigned as leader shortly afterwards.
Harold Wilson (1916-1995): Wilson served as Prime Minister from 1964 to 1970, and from 1974 to 1976. He led the Labour Party to two general election victories, but he also lost two general elections.

The stories of the nearly-theres provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of British politics. They are a reminder that even the most talented and ambitious politicians can sometimes fall short of their goals. However, they also show that it is possible to overcome adversity and achieve great things.

The Prime Ministers Who Never Were: A Collection of Political Counterfactuals

by Francis Beckett

4 out of 5