Speaking of political parties who knife their own or coalition members, many here recall Harold Holt disappeared while swimming on 17 December 1967 and was declared presumed drowned two days later. The following Wiki URL gives the following, so naturally please analyse it for accuracy if desired, as my memory of the Liberals 1967- 1971 sage comes from the media at the time so perhaps not the full picture plus my memory of then is perhaps just that.
Holt’s presumed successor was Liberal deputy leader William McMahon. However, on 18 December, the Country Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen announced that if McMahon were named the new Liberal leader, he and his party would not serve under him. His reasons were never stated publicly, but in a private meeting with McMahon, he said "I will not serve under you because I do not trust you". McEwen's shock declaration triggered a leadership crisis within the Liberal Party; even more significantly, it raised the threat of a possible breaking of the Coalition, which would spell electoral disaster for the Liberals. Up to that time, the Liberals had never won enough seats in any House of Representatives election to be able to govern without Country Party support.
(Petan’s reflection; As we know, Gorton became PM and Billy Big Ears McMahon did the knife job on Gorton in 1971 so McMahon became PM. Also remember the Liberals was unlucky to come up against a new and formidable Labor Opposition Leader in Gough Whitlam. Same with ALP's Bill Hayden who was replaced by Bob Hawke just a few weeks before the 1983 election and the ALP swept the coalition from office.)
Edited 25 Aug 2018 08:49, 2 years ago, edited by petan
Speaking of political parties who knife their own or coalition members, many here recall Harold Holt disappeared while swimming on 17 December 1967 and was declared presumed drowned two days later. The following Wiki URL gives the following, so naturally please analyse it for accuracy if desired, as my memory of the Liberals 1967- 1971 sage comes from the media at the time so perhaps not the full picture plus my memory of then is perhaps just that.
Holt’s presumed successor was Liberal deputy leader William McMahon. However, on 18 December, the Country Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen announced that if McMahon were named the new Liberal leader, he and his party would not serve under him. His reasons were never stated publicly, but in a private meeting with McMahon, he said "I will not serve under you because I do not trust you". McEwen's shock declaration triggered a leadership crisis within the Liberal Party; even more significantly, it raised the threat of a possible breaking of the Coalition, which would spell electoral disaster for the Liberals. Up to that time, the Liberals had never won enough seats in any House of Representatives election to be able to govern without Country Party support.
(Petan’s reflection; As we know, Gorton became PM and Billy Big Ears McMahon did the knife job on Gorton in 1971 so McMahon became PM. Also remember the Liberals was unlucky to come up against a new and formidable Labor Opposition Leader in Gough Whitlam. Same with Bill ALP's Hayden who was replaced by Bob Hawke just a few weeks before the 1983 election and the ALP swept the coalition from office.)
Edited 25 Aug 2018 08:49, 2 years ago, edited by petan
Speaking of political parties who knife their own or coalition members, many here recall Harold Holt disappeared while swimming on 17 December 1967 and was declared presumed drowned two days later. The following Wiki URL gives the following, so naturally please analyse it for accuracy if desired, as my memory of the Liberals 1967- 1971 sage comes from the media at the time so perhaps not the full picture plus my memory of then is perhaps just that.
Holt’s presumed successor was Liberal deputy leader William McMahon. However, on 18 December, the Country Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen announced that if McMahon were named the new Liberal leader, he and his party would not serve under him. His reasons were never stated publicly, but in a private meeting with McMahon, he said "I will not serve under you because I do not trust you". McEwen's shock declaration triggered a leadership crisis within the Liberal Party; even more significantly, it raised the threat of a possible breaking of the Coalition, which would spell electoral disaster for the Liberals. Up to that time, the Liberals had never won enough seats in any House of Representatives election to be able to govern without Country Party support.
(Petan’s reflection; As we know, Gorton became PM and Billy Big Ears McMahon did the knife job on Gorton in 1971 so McMahon became PM. Also remember the Liberals was unlucky to come up against a new and formidable Labor Opposition Leader in Gough Whitlam. Same with Bill ALP's Hayden who was replaced by Bob Hawke just a few weeks before the 1983 election and the ALP swept the coalition from office.)
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