The Fall of Stanley Baldwin and the British Conservative Party
In spring of 1935 the British PM, Stanley Baldwin was invited to visit a family friend, Richard Astor at a country estate. A friend of Astor, 19-year-old Christine Keeler and some other young women were also in attendance. When Keeler went for a swim in the pool, she attracted the attention of Baldwin. Baldwin first began his affair with Keeler at the Astor estate.
In August of 1935, a fight erupted between Keeler and another boyfriend, the American, Chris Morris. As a result of the argument Morris contacted the British newspaper, the Daily Mail, revealing the clandestine romance between Baldwin and Keeler. The Daily Mail, under the leadership of Harold Harmsworth, had in the last three to four years withdrawn its support of the Conservative Party, throwing it behind the newly formed “New Order” led by Oswald Mosley and this bit of juicy gossip was just too much for the Daily Mail to ignore. Reporters were assigned to follow up.
The Conservative party quickly became aware of the romance and a concerted effort was made to cover it up involving the bribery of Morris, several servants and even a reporter. The affair was covered up but Harmsworth was motivated (and secretly well funded by the political opposition) and in March of 1936 the story broke to the press anew, except this time the story was not only about a sex scandal but also included accusations of bribery, espionage and the trade of state secrets. The Daily Mail printed that Morris was a USSA spy and that, in order to keep his silence, he was fed state military secrets. While the investigation is currently ongoing, the evidence made public to date is certainly damning and Lady Lucy Baldwin, in April of this year, filed for divorce from Mr. Baldwin. In the public perception he may as well have stuck a knife in the king’s back.
The Rise of Oswald Mosley and the New Order Party
The scandal has shaken British politics and a significant number of Conservative members of parliament have already crossed the floor to join other political parties, in particular the “New Order” led by Mosley. A vote of non-confidence has passed and election are due in the immediate future.
With the conservative party’s spine effectively broken, the election will effectively pit the left-leaning ‘Labor Party’ with the right-wing ‘New Order’.
The Labor Party, despite its appeal during this trying economic ties, has been successfully associated with left-wing ideology and links to communism (regardless of the truth) making it an unlikely victor in the upcoming elections.
On the other hand the popular press appears to be supporting the ‘New Order’ party which has managed to associate itself with anti-corruption, British nationalism, strength in foreign affairs, especially in relation to communism (who’s popularity, due to the allegations against Mullis, are at an all-time low), and ‘standing up for the common worker’ against domestic plutocrats and foreign business. In the economic environment of the ‘Great Depression’ Mosley has linked the worker’s plight with a narrative of Conservative cronyism, often associated with the British upper-class, abuse by foreign business, and wasted resources on the entanglements of foreign ‘allies’ with little or no return on investment. This is resonating soundly with the British people and his platform of protectionism and high tariff walls to protect jobs, “preventing cheap slave competition from abroad” is winning support that might otherwise go to the Labor party.
Ultimately the coming election is shaping up to be rather one-sided and it appears that Great Britain may soon be under new leadership.
The flag of the "New Order" party
used in literature and public engagements alongside the Union Jack
