Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM

Coup D’etat

It started one winter in 1975. As the snow fell in London, troops moved through the streets, securing important buildings. The BBC tower, the houses of parliament and 10 Downing Street were all surrounded before anyone could notice, let alone react. Once the communications systems had been cut and everything was in place, coup forces stormed 10 Downing Street and arrested Harold Wilson, the British Prime Minister. Resistance was sporadic and very limited.

As the next morning rose, the Queen broadcast from Buckingham palace, surrounded by armed troops. She announced the collapse of the Wilson Government in the wake of Wilson’s tragic illness and his resignation. The public are told that he’s gone to Sicily to recuperate, but he’s really been moved to an internment centre in the Shetland Islands.

She finally announced the formation of a Government of National Unity, headed by Lord Mountbatten and composed of Tory loyalists and Labour opportunists, and the establishment of martial law in order to combat Forces of Evil within the nation. She concluded with an appeal for everyone to cooperate with the police and security services.

In the weeks that followed, what little resistance that happened was broken. Activists, soviet sympathisers and troublemakers were rounded up, strikes were declared illegal and brutally crushed. Rationing was instituted and the army was present on every street corner. Arthur Scargill and his comrades were soon sharing quarters with Wilson in the Shetlands.

The international reaction was muted. The Americans, having asked for and received certain assurances about British commitments to NATO, quietly accepted the coup. The French and the rest of the EY were furious as British had withdrawn from the EU at once, before they could bribe/bluster/threaten the new rulers of the UK. The Soviet Union, seeing decades of effort at subverting Britain down the tubes, condemned it in no uncertain terms. As Britain re-forged relations with south Africa and Rhodesia, the British commonwealth broke apart in horror; India, Pakistan et all went their own way.

Ireland erupted as the British finally took a hard line. IRA suspects were brutally tortured before being shot; RAF planes bombed suspected IRA strongpoints and people trying to flee into the Republic of Ireland were chased by British forces. Protests from Dublin were futile, while America finally clamped down on IRA funding efforts within the USA. A deluge of emigrants fled Ireland for the US.

Britain finally confronted the US over a clash with Iceland. The ‘Cod War’ erupted as Iceland expanded their sea borders, preventing British ships from fishing there. The British sent a small fleet into the region and sunk several Icelandic patrol boats. Public outrage in the US over this and the strong British support for South Africa led to a split in relations – the British left NATO and invited the Americans to vacate their bases on British soil. The USSR started sabre rattling in East Germany as Argentina launched an invasion of the Falklands, to be bloodily repulsed. America rushed forces to West Germany.

By 1984, Britain is very different. There was no large-scale immigration of Asians from India/Pakistan/Bangladesh, therefore a much smaller ethnic population. The economy is actually stronger without the EU and by arms sales to all and sundry, although there still is rationing. Politically, the Labour/Lib Dems parties have been severely weakened (combo of several of their prime members being identified as Forces of Evil and heavy vote-rigging). The Conservatives as more moderate than OTL; Thatcher is a far right candidate who is disliked, but tolerated to present an appearance of democracy.

On the streets, crime has been cracked down on hard. The death penalty is in force for murderers, paedophiles and drug smugglers. Young offenders are shipped off to Borstals and forced to learn – corporal punishment is used frequently – and there are fewer drinking teenagers. The police are stronger, with more powers, and are openly racist/anti-semantic. Conscription is in force for roughly 50% of the young males. Sexual equality is not as evident as it was in OTL; women are expected to be mothers, daughters, and wives first. The government runs schemes for work-creation, but no real social security. There is a growing democratic movement (mainly students), but the security services constantly penetrate and ship its members off to the internment centres.

Internationally, Britain is a pariah state. Britain has good relations with South Africa and a few other white-dominated African nations. The EU, USSR and USA are all regularly condemning the new police state, but can’t/won’t do anything about it. Britain is also shipping arms and training to many nations; Iran, Iraq, Saudi, Israel, Egypt, etc.

Comments?

Chris

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