NationStates Jolt Archive


Englishmen! Rise again!...

The British Federation
11-06-2004, 23:02
...Throw off the yoke of the shake and the coke!

Birthplace of the world’s greatest ever empire and of modern democracy, a tiny multi-lingual territory that spawned the world’s farthest-reaching tongue, Britain was actually quite remarkable for part of a little island group in a cold rainy ocean. Unfortunately she’d begun to come off the rails, honourably stepping-out of the imperial ring without apparently realising that other powers were yet unsated. She’d let the world go only to see it snapped-up by the aspiring American son. Sadly little progress had been made, however. The isles appeared neither to have the power they relinquished nor the sort of social progress one might have hoped to gain in exchange. The people by enlarge appeared keen to find it, they’d elected a purportedly socialist government and been sorely disappointed. The elite still clung to dreams of real power and influence, but pursued it with greater reserve than did certain foreign competitors.

Well, that was how John Bull saw it when he established the British Industrial Democratic Party, and made his bid for Downing Street. His attempts began to appear quite serious in the early C21st as emigration exploded with untold new lands being pioneered and thousands of nations claiming significant British heritage. None of them payed taxes to home, though.

Apparently Bull was able to strike a balance between nationalism and tolerance, and to make convincing promises both for public service and economic strength. He recognised the slightly worrying rise in almost xenophobic patriotism and realised that this was not the time to fight it- he flew the union flag at rallies and promised people local control over their lives. Devolution would ensure that everyone had the chance to make their voice heard no matter how paranoid Brussels made them feel, and as such he could promise others that continental ties wouldn’t have to be cut. Paranoia had only grown since Britain’s intrepid masses flooded away in this new colonial era. He (Bull) didn’t offer huge tax-cuts but did promise specific and significant reforms and improvements in public services, things people would be able to see and to hold him accountable for rather than speaking of vague targets and figures that would be open to manipulation.

BID appealed to the people at large first, but often made a point to speak of limits to its social ambition and the desperate importance of protecting British industry and commercial ties. Bull convinced enough middle class voters that they’d nothing to fear from his party and that in fact his pride would reflect well upon them. Unlike some hard-line socialist candidates, Bull didn’t propose to completely nationalise industry in order to ‘stop the rot’ created by mass emigration, although he conceded some would be required.

By the time of Bull’s election the UK had, in short, cleared out huge parts of its government and seen a major shake-up in opposition and minor parties as BID won great support. The United Kingdom had under-gone a new level of local devolution but remained unified and somewhat reinvigorated. The government had quite suddenly nationalised an awful lot, but was gradually selling it off again. Along with a re-assessment of international allegiances, this was probably the most radical thing going on, and of course there were already rumours of corruption and of long-term detriment to the economy. Bull insisted that there might be a short-term shock, but that in fact the long-term effect would be positive, much fairer and even sounder.

He’d been proven right on the first count, which shocked many a great deal as per-capita GDP halved, but BID’s lead was significant and, well, there was some corruption and Bull had secured a good number of friends in the ruling party.

Other items of change included a slight reduction of but long-term commitment to the monarchy, and something vaguely referenced during campaigning as, “a commitment to foreign affairs as they benefit all, or Britain specifically, rather than none but our more powerful allies”, whatever that meant. A lot of British troops were coming home, that much was clear.

Sadly, close to sixty million people seemed to have vanished, just about every public figure amongst them, politicians and royals included. Distant relatives had to be rooted-out, and Queen Elizabeth III was created head of state.

Suddenly, immigrants and asylum-seekers didn’t seem like negative things, and government actively encouraged ex-pats and far-flung colonials to return to their motherland, which felt astonishingly vulnerable after such emigration. “It’s like Sicily, or something!” Said one old man.

As they waved-off American troops told to leave at home and off in Britain’s overseas dependencies, BID supporters sang without a hint of irony.

Cleansed of your bases and your trivial TV
We’ll be everything we used to be
Communistpoland
11-06-2004, 23:26
wow
*applauds madly*
You sir make me proud to be british.
The British Federation
12-06-2004, 15:55
(Thank you very much, unless that's sarcasm, in which case I say, "oi!" and shake a fist.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I want from anyone by this introduction, perhaps just a few reads, or perhaps some reaction from states with British-colonial origins... or those that hate Britain or are displeased by BID's swing away from towing American lines.)
Allanea
12-06-2004, 16:14
Allanean Government official announcemnet
We are pleased by your success and would like your nation to consider entering the Ali'Staan accord.
The British Federation
12-06-2004, 17:17
While expressing its thanks for Allanean congratulations, London admitted to general ignorance of the mentioned accords, blaming great introspection as required by the recent upheavals in the United Kingdom.

PM Bull insisted that this introspection was now on its way to being broken, along with the ignorance it has created. The UK shall be looking to renewed participation in respectable and important international organisations, and is in fact keen to revitalise the Commonwealth of Nations, inviting increased contact from British-origin nation states.
Muktar
12-06-2004, 17:18
*waits for United Indiastan to see this...*
The British Federation
13-06-2004, 00:25
(Yes, lets all wait for that, because that will be... a defining moment in... the evolution of man? I don't know. [twiddles thumbs])
The British Federation
14-06-2004, 16:57
An addition noting London's attempt to revitalise The Commonwealth of Nations (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=152714&highlight=).
Five Civilized Nations
14-06-2004, 17:00
#tagged...
The British Federation
15-06-2004, 04:08
(Hehe, well, I think I've got the hang of being tagged and bumped. I know it's perhaps a bit much to expect anyone to leap into a Commonwealth with a new nation, or to have anything special to say about a change of government in one single nation (or four, arguably). I've been looking round for ways to make a more significant early contribution, but it seems surprisingly hard to do without X-million troops backing up one's point. I shall re-organise the RAF and try again.)
The British Federation
21-06-2004, 04:06
Some time having passed since his election, it now appears that John Bull is to remain a popular Prime Minister. Under his watch the economy has returned to pre-emmigration levels, the last administrations draconian limitation to civil liberties has been erased, public spending is on the rise and -though there are some allegations of on going corruption- wasteage appears to be down. With the military well on its way to reconstruction and the nation distanced from its less popular allies of old a feeling of security has returned, and apparently sparked a baby boom. The Commonwealth of Nations has gained its first new member, the indigenous (constitutional) monarchy of Walmington on Sea, and the future finally looks bright again for the British people.