United Kingdom
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His Majesty's Government
Monarch: HM King Edward IX
Prince-Consort: HRH Prince Leonardo
Prince of Wales: HRH Prince Michael
Prime Minister: Sir William 'Bill' Dearheart
Deputy Prime Minister: Charles Sinclair
Home Secretary: Jason Mikaelson
Foreign Secretary: George Marlborough
Defence Secretary: Klaus Mikaelson
Culture Secretary: Chris Mikaelson
Director of MI5: Charles Sinclair
Attorney General: Constance St. James
Chief Justice: Jacob M. Stewart
Sr. Associate Justice: Edwin T. C. Astor
Jr. Associate Justice: Daniel C.A. Astor
Parliament Dissolved; Transitional Government Announced
In one of the greatest political crises the United Kingdom has bore witness to in recent times, Parliament and Executive were caught in constitutional gridlock as Parliament attempted to remove both Prime Minister and Monarch. The event, which took place on Sunday 17th November 2013, was the culmination of rising tension between the Prime Minister attempting to pass through a controversial legislative agenda and Parliament refusing to give in to the adamant will of the Prime Minister's committed to push through her propositions. The Foreign Office has produced the following FAQ to help clarify the proceeding events of the climax and the aftermath thereof. It should be noted that this is very much an on-going and current event and details may be open to change as developments occur.
How did it begin?
Prime Minister Constance St. James proposed
Constitutional Amendment XX which limited the Supreme Court from judicial overstep, i.e. answer questions of law which are not directly related to the case. The proposition did not win the support of Members of Parliament so Ms. St. James legislated
Executive Order XXIV. This reinforced that the Constitution imposes limits on the Court, and if the Court exceeds its constitutional authority, HM Government has a constitutional obligation not to enforce the order. There was an unsuccessful attempt to repeal this Executive Order by Parliament.
How was Prime Minister St. James 'removed'?
The
RES001 (2013), a resolution to remove the Prime Minister from office, was passed with a majority by Parliament within 8 minutes of it's proposal.
How was Parliament dissolved?
After the removal of Prime Minister St. James from office, His Majesty the King called HM Government to a Cabinet Meeting to discuss the dissolution of Parliament. A vote was taken and HM Government voted to dissolve the 26th Session of Parliament.
What happened to the Crown?
In a swift proposition, the
Removal Instrument Act 2013 was placed before Parliament with an intent to remove Edward IX from the throne. The bill required a majority of five votes to pass but was stalled by His Majesty appointing recent deposed Prime Minister St. James as a Peer of Parliament allowing her to invoke a vote of no confidence on the Speaker which was repeatedly objected too in a fine example of parliamentary 'ping-pong'.
How was the issue resolved?
The Supreme Court was under pressure to resolve the issue in a timely and appropriate fashion. A cessation of power was asked upon the monarchy, Parliament and executive in order to prevent further crisis. The Lord Chief Justice, Jacob M. Stewart, proposed a "Grand Bargain" to provide a resolution to the issue. This was placed before Parliament by Constance St. James and passed. Thus, the Transitional Government was appointed with Bill Dearheart as the
pro tempore Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Edward IX continues to reign over the United Kingdom and Parliament was successfully dissolved and a Writ of Election issued.
Writ of Election issued by His Majesty
On Monday 18th November 2013, a Writ of General Election was issued by His Majesty from the Royal Press Office with an intention for the voting to take place on the 27th November. The aftermath of the recent, unnamed crisis left HM Government and Parliament in disarray until the "Grand Bargain" brought a relatively satisfactory resolution to the political conflict. The opportunity to register and to be included on the ballot was opened, administrated by the Senior Associate Justice, Edwin T. C. Astor, who was described by some as the "most powerful man in the region" at certain points in the aforementioned political crisis. The registration of individuals into the electoral race is hoped by many to allow Parliament a fresh start with the intention to work towards the greater good for the region and the citizens it continues to represent. It is still unclear where the most contested seats are located but as the election cycle develops the region will see the restoration of stability within the political sphere heavily ruptured by internal conflicts.
Developments regarding the Treaty of London
The Treaty of London is an international agreement between particular British-themed regions in NationStates. The idea behind the treaty is to unite the regions culturally through bi-annual festivals and encourage the advancement of the 'British mission' within NationStates through a meeting between Heads of State and Government every four months. There were two amendments to the Treaty made by the then Parliament which included: the prevention of a signatory region from being obliged to ban an individual who had been done so in another signatory region and the 'banned list' being only accessed by the Heads of State and Government of signatory regions. The amendments passed despite expressed concerns regarding the extent to which cultural ties between regions remain strong enough to warrant such a Treaty as useful. The United Kingdom's representative at the summit will continue to be Jason Mikaelson who has championed the Treaty of London in the United Kingdom since it's conception.
A bright near-future for UK under Dearheart
The appointment of Bill Dearheart as the transitory Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the interim of the next General Election heralds a brighter future for the United Kingdom. The Minister of Defence, Klaus Mikaelson, appointed under the transitory Dearheart government has already announced sweeping reforms to the Ministry of Defence. The most poignant include the abolition of ranks above Colonel, re-naming of key battalions the disbandment of the Headquarter's Company. Furthermore, Prime Minister Dearheart is encouraging a recruitment drive within the Home Office and a greater occurance of cultural events to ignite activity. The citizenry of the UK has certainly proved to be resolute and vigilant in the face of political uncertainty, not least in recent days. As the UK moves into a new era of politics, the populace remains hopeful for stability and peace within the realm and the continued advancement of the antiquary British idiom: "Keep calm and carry on".
This update was brought to you by
~ The Foreign & Commonwealth Office ~
on behalf of His Majesty, His Government,
and His citizens.
~ Pro Deo, Pro Rege, Pro Patria ~
~ For God, for the King, for Country ~
