NationStates Jolt Archive

Owing to dwindling budgets that have required massive tax increases over the past few months to maintain the gargantuan social infrastructure, the new prime minister, Owen Blakeney (Labour - Saxeheath-Cockburn-North) has told Parliament the Government intends to withdraw many of its forces currently on exercise or deployed outside of the UKIN to reduce costs without requiring massive reductions in the UKINDF.

"There is simply too much on our plate at present to be sauntering off hither and thither like louts on a bender," Mr Blakeney announced to the disgusted cries of the Opposition Conservative Party. His Majesty the King was not available for comment.

Mr Blakeney did stress, however, that Escort Group 31 will retain its homeport in Jimnam.

This has been Sarah Plehvin for INBC 1 News.

Owing to the latest drive towards isolationism, the new Labour government has recently declared its intention to leave the OMP and NATO. The former governing Conservative Party howled in disbelief at the announcement. Over the cat-calling of both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, Mr Blakeney countered, "Considering the disastrous economy the previous government left us, Mr Speaker, it will be necessary for us to withdraw from some of our less pressing commitments." Mr Yardmouth, leader of the Opposition replied, "How can national security be a less pressing commitment?"

His Majesty is still unavailable for comment.

The debate continues tomorrow.

This has been Sarah Plehvin for INBC 1 News.

In a very close vote, both houses of Parliament have decided to leave both NATO and the OMP. The leaders of the Opposition, Oliver Yardmouth (Conservative) and Sylvia Chu (Liberal Democrat) could scarcely contain their astonishment at the proclamation. It had been expected that the measure would fail before the Senate, but the Loyal Monarchists combined with Labour to give the bill the required plurality. Despite his silent opposition to the bill, the King is expected to grant royal assent.

This has been Sarah Plehvin for INBC 1 News.

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While we are saddened at the measures the United Kingdom has undertaken, we retain our great respect and admiration for our brothers in Isselmere-Nieland.

We wish you Godspeed along whatever roads your future endeavours take you.

Mike Sarzo
President
Incorporated States of Sarzonia

OOC: :(

Jimnam is honoured that you wish to retain your escort group within Jimnam. We would like to offer any assistance that is required to allow this deployment to remain in place.

Long live our friends in Isselmere!

Grand Admiral Jim
Commander in Chief
Jimnam

King Henry V worried impatiently in his office at Wentworth Palace. The Queen was busy with her charity work, but had rung him offering her support in these trying times. The Government seeks to emasculate us, he thought. They are drawing us from our friends and allies into the morass of the unwelcome. He lamented the folly of the new Labour government, so unlike the Loyal Opposition of old under Simon Gerard's leadership, with its strangely isolationist tendencies.

We must regroup.

He looked at the bill on his bureau, wondering whether he should sign it or not. Time was almost up, but an outright refusal might cause a constitutional debate that would undermine the few powers the monarchy had retained. The new prime minister, Blakeney, chided him that his countersignature was almost a mere formality, that foreign policy had already brought the necessary political ruptures. Only the King's timely intervention had saved the UKIN-Jimnam base agreement and the continuation of the partnerships between the Royal Shipyards and foreign yards. Yet as he fretted in the Inkwell, as his father nicknamed the room, surrounded by ancient tapestries and portraits of his predecessors, he wondered about his old allies in Sarzonia who had been of such great assistance in the past, and of Praetonia whose great empire continued to rise.

We shall regroup.

Calling in the Lord Chamberlain, he ordered meetings with the ambassadors of those three great nations, to reassure them that the UKIN of old had survived despite the machinations of politicians.

OOC: Thanks everyone. I will try to keep this interesting, if nothing else.