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The Foreign Dispatch from Great Britain and Ireland



April 2007
10th April 2007

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Greetings to all the nations, regions, and readers of the world from the desks of the Foreign Office of His Majesty --Great Britain--, King of Great Britain and Ireland and all her Dominions and Colonies. The Foreign Dispatch is written by North East Somerset and Klopstock, the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister of GB&I respectively, with the assistance of His Majesty's Government, Members of Parliament, distinguished ambassadors and guests, and loyal British Citizens. Please enjoy!

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General Election

The election of the 13th March 2007 was played up by the government to be a real thriller and it didn’t disappoint. A record number of candidates signed up to stand for election to parliament, which made the competition fiercer than ever before.

Manifestos were posted by the majority of candidates, and rabid debate followed as each candidate tried to persuade the citizenry to vote for them and their ideas over their opponents, whilst the other candidates tried to point out mistakes and difficulties in their agendas.

The campaigning period reached a climax with over 700 posts in one day, largely in the Hustings manifesto area. The polls were set up on the 9th March, initially by the Home Secretary although he had not set a limit to vote for five candidates. Fortunately this was rapidly spotted, and within a couple of hours, and before the deadline for the poll being set up a new one was started by the outgoing Prime Minister.

The votes at the end of the election on the 13th March looked as follows, with North East Somerset gaining the highest number of votes followed by Klopstock, both a considerable margin ahead of the mainstream:

North East Somerset (Independant) [ 16 ] [13.91%]
Posul (Independant) [ 8 ] [6.96%]
Windsor-Bainbridge (Independant) [ 9 ] [7.83%]
British Allies (Independant) [ 6 ] [5.22%]
Klopstock (Independant) [ 15 ] [13.04%]
NatetheGreat (Alliance Party) [ 4 ] [3.48%]
Lethen (Independant) [ 7 ] [6.09%]
Riddim (Independant) [ 5 ] [4.35%]
English Sympathizers (Independant) [ 5 ] [4.35%]
The Venerable Vendetta (Independant) [ 8 ] [6.96%]
The Kingdom of Paquerettes (Independant) [ 4 ] [3.48%]
Killtron (Independant) [ 7 ] [6.09%]
donchatryit (Independant) [ 9 ] [7.83%]
Fenchurch (Independant) [ 8 ] [6.96%]
Arqia (Independant) [ 4 ] [3.48%]

The final results of the general election meant the following 12 citizens were elected as MPs, due to a tie for the final place:

North East Somerset
Posul
Windsor-Bainbridge
British Allies
Klopstock
Lethen
Riddim
English Sympathizers
The Venerable Vendetta
Killtron
donchatryit
Fenchurch

Shortly after the election of the MPs, the House of Commons discussed the issue of the election of the Prime Minister. Twice previous Prime Minister Posul had put a serious campaign bid in with promises of a referendum on ACCEL, basing Cabinet appointments on recruiting efforts and a government newspaper. The outgoing Prime Minister North East Somerset declined to run, and instead supported Klopstock for Prime Minister.

A considerable debate between Klopstock and Posul followed in the House of Commons with Klopstock saying: “I grow more and more amused as I watch my Rt. Honourable colleague continue with ever greater enthusiasm in his gusts of fierce yet scattered rhetoric, half truths, re-inventions, and embarrassing attempts to portray himself as the active, competent, and productive member which he is not and has for the last many months never been.”

In the end, after the debate, Klopstock won a vote amongst the MPs by 8 to 1, a considerable majority, and was appointed as the Prime Minister by His Majesty, --Great Britain-- on the 22nd March 2007.


The State Opening of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament was completed by His Majesty the King, on the 22nd March 2007, when he made this speech to the region:

“ My Lords, Honourable Members, Subjects of this Great Realm,

Having observed the distribution of votes between candidates and their subsequent distribution of support between the known supporters of the stated Prime Ministerial candidates, I am pleased to be able to invite the independent candidate, Klopstock, to form a Government in this the thirteenth Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland. I believe that he and his supporters currently have the greatest mandate to govern, along with the greatest ability to command support in Parliament.

During the next term, Klopstock will face the challenge of translating the activity that the region has acquired during the last term into progress. This progress must be achieved without jeopardising our foundations as a region, as we have foolishly done so many times before. Each time we let our pulse drop too low we risk it stopping forever. A day will come when a no leader, no matter how good is able to save us. And each time we risk the region due to poor governance, we risk losing it not temporarily, but forever.

Klopstock has stepped into the fray before when we needed a leader to start our machine of government up again, this time he faces a very different task. The region has much potential locked up, with record candidacies for election, and record post counts over the last term. But this potential must be organised and refined from crude activity, to useable fuel, and then, he fuel must be used in an efficient manner, to achieve a useful task.

What that task should be is clear: to manoeuvre our region diplomatically to open up new and great opportunities; to make the military a manageable and effective fighting force; to increase the number of members in the region and active on the forum; to develop the forums to provide the services that citizens of the region deserve; to continue the legacy of legal governance by improving the statute; and above all, to take any action possible, not just necessary, to make GB&I a greater region.

With the right strategic and tactical policies, and the active and determined leadership, that Klopstock is here to provide, GB&I can complete the move diplomatically, militarily and technically into the Premier league of regions of Nationstates that it belongs to. With over two years of experience, and over 100,000 posts behind us, and the largest team of committed, experienced and willing individuals we’ve ever had, we are in a prime position to do so, now more than any time before.”

The Prime Minister then decided to announce the Cabinet on March 23rd 2007 here.

Foreign Secretary: North East Somerset
Home Secretary: The Venerable Vendetta
Minister of Community: Windsor Bainbridge
Minister of Security: Lethen

It is the first time, since September 2005, that a Colonial Secretary is not included in the Cabinet. The office was abolished when it was decided that the Dominions of the Empire should be granted independence. Colonial affairs, as utilized with the recent institution of the Commonwealth Realms, now fall under the authority of the Foreign Office.

To replace the Colonial Secretary, a new office has been created, that of the Minister for Community. The role of the new Minister shall be to endeavour towards increasing the social, cultural, and recreational activities available in the region as well as promoting a healthy community atmosphere.

Junior Ministerial positions have already started being announced, while the Prime Minister has decided to appoint Riddim for another term as the UN Delegate of the region, although this time she shall not be a member of the Cabinet.

The new Government has announced their agenda, which can be found here. Great Britain and Ireland is looking forward to a productive and prosperous term.

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Crown Prince Referendum


His Majesty the King in all his glory

On January 14th 2007 Foreign Secretary Lethen set up a petition on the General Discussion board to have another administrator on the boards. His Majesty --Great Britain— was well behind in his administrative duties and for some time had been failing to make changes in a reasonable amount of time. The Foreign Secretary was having to continually apologise to incoming ambassadors trying to set up embassies about the time it took for the forum to be put up, even leading to some minor disputes with impatient ambassadors.

He made a short speech as a precursor to the petition: “Its been long enough. For too long the King's inactivity has hurt the region. As we don't believe he will be swayed by convincing or discussion, we have decided to set up this petition. All those who wish to have another admin setup on the forums, please sign. We love --GB--, we just don't love his inactivity. Please sign if you love the region!”

At first members signed it, but then North East Somerset arrived exclaiming that the petition had no legal grounds and was not the correct way to go about this issue. Soon after Posul posted in outrage calling the petitioners treasonous and disgraceful, and called for, “Punishments before such like minded actions take place again.”

R3nnaissanc3r, Westmorlandia and Trividium also made appearances all saying that they support a second administrator, that they didn’t think this was the correct way to go about it, but they did not think it was treasonous.

After further discussion and debate the King himself appeared, and made a heartfelt speech about his time in the region saying that he will call a referendum on the issue after one month, on whether Great Britain and Ireland should have a Crown Prince. His speech of January 15th 2007 can be viewed here.

Campaigning then began, with Windsor Bainbridge making a speech in favour of not having a Crown Prince. Other loyalists to the King including North East Somerset also pointed out the complex legal issues with having a Crown Prince, and the advantages of keeping the status quo. Others including Klopstock and Loyal British Columbia put forwards the case for a Crown Prince. Many stayed neutral publicly.

After one month and five days, the referendum was put up and the votes began to accumulate. By the time five days were up 13 votes had been given to each side so the King intervened allowing another 24 hours of votes, in which 3 votes came out for the Crown Prince to not be installed, and the vote was decided.

A flurry of activity then followed in which many accusations and comments flew about. Some said that they voted “No” because they wanted a second administrator not a Crown Prince. Some said the King had been especially active recently. Others said the issue was not closed and discussion on how to make this viable should continue, whilst His Majesty said a “No” vote was definitive and the issue was closed.

With administrative duties once again piling up with the removal of temporary administrator North East Somerset whom was privately appointed by the Monarch to the role some time after the vote had occurred, and who has been keeping the forums administered over the last few months, the issue may raise its ugly head in the future.

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The Great British and Irish Civil War


The phoney dispute between the King and Parliament turned citizen against citizen

A few minutes after midnight on 1 April 2007, His Majesty (and sole administrator of the forums) --Great Britain-- set back British parliamentary democracy 370 years by dissolving the House of Commons, appointing a Privy Counsel, and establishing his personal rule in Great Britain and Ireland. ‘The best form of government for any state, country or region’ he proclaimed, ‘is and always has been absolute monarchy.’ So began the Civil War of 2007. Or, we should say, of April Fools Day 2007. For as ‘Lord Protector’ Klopstock led the parliamentary rebellion against the King and as members of all ages and standing divided into royalist and parliamentary camps, the massive prank organised by the Minister for Community Windsor-Bainbridge and his accomplices developed into a smashing success.

Lasting eleven hours until revealed as a joke in Buckingham Palace, and ensnaring everyone from citizens logging in to find radical announcements and diplomats stopping by to offer support for one side or the other (some real, some as part of the fun), the act was the biggest April Fool’s joke in GB&I’s history, and for all but a handful in the know came completely unexpected. Battles raged from the military establishment to the House of Lords and involved foreign embassies were seized and liberated, as each side raised armies and denounced, demoted and detained their opponents. Victims of the day included the Home Secretary The Venerable Vendetta who resigned when his ‘small little corner of the world…turned into a hell hole’, and the citizen/foreign ‘diplomat’ Momochine who announced her region New Spain’s support for parliament and reported in haste back to her regional forums on the matter. They later claimed when it was pointed out that it was a joke that they were joking too, and promptly carried on as before.

While some realized the joke immediately and others were completely befuddled, the success of the prank was undoubtedly helped by the time difference between Britain, where it was largely organised, and America, where many of the victims came from. Regardless, the English Civil War of 2007 succeeded in developing the GB&I community further, and the region looks forward to many new initiatives to bolster social life and recreation in Great Britain and Ireland--- of the non-revolutionary kind that is.

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Community Minister launches action plan

The Minister of Community Windsor Bainbridge has written up detailed proposals for a series of measures in his new job. The ex-Deputy Prime Minister wants to rejuvenate the culture of the region by giving citizens relaxing and constructive alternatives to the thriving “Spamming” area set up in Non-regional discussion.

He proposes several measures in his “Plan of Action” which can be found here.

He plans to regenerate the Arrivals Hall area to make it less daunting to new members and to provide the up to date information they need to understand the workings of the region. He plans to hold a competition for poet laureate of the region. He is working on creating a “Whos Who” in GB&I with brief articles on each member of the region.

Roleplay is also enjoying a revival with the help of Zeon-x, Posul, Paquerettes and others, with “Medieval GB&I” where characters from the region play as knights and barons, has been very successful. The UN Security Council roleplay has just started. A Civil War roleplay is being discussed in the Ideas section. The Ministry of Community is working on an RP Moderator system.

The Citizens Panel which aims to provide an area for formal debate to construct policies for the region in mainly RL terms has been started and is awaiting construction.

The Stock Exchange has also reopened under the guidance of Chairman Posul. It is due to elect members for the GBISE Committee soon. Around eight companies have registered and interest so far has been very encouraging. Hopefully under the guidance of the Ministry, the Stock Exchange will be able to flourish.

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Warzones captured in warm-up exercise


The Warzone Australia Military Governor Flag

When last updated in the Dispatch the military was in the process of appointing a new CIGS. Stony Stratford had in fact been tasked with updating the Officers list to give the government a chance to appoint a new CIGS. However instead of doing that he tried to maintain a grip on his position using legislation to attempt to stay in power. North East Somerset the Prime Minister at the time however acted immediately to remove the CIGS.

The ex-CIGS later attempted to try the government in a Court Case, and all Cabinet Ministers were required to come forwards and file affidavits to the clerk, as to their vote, and why they voted. The Lord Chief Justice Gililand however concluded that no wrong doing had occurred.

A new CIGS Olde Delaware was then appointed and he oversaw an expansion of operations. The military has been relatively busy during the last term as it went on several exercises to GB&I controlled bases, and culminated in the efficient capture of two Warzones. A maximum of 12 UN responses was achieved during the exercises. Warzone Africa and Warzone Australia flags were presented to His Majesty the King on the 15th March.

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This Terms Honours List



For long-standing and exemplary loyalty and service to the region in a variety of Cabinet positions over the last year, and his loyalty and service in general to the region for the last year and a half, R3nnaissanc3r is hereby made a Duke of Cornwall. This highest of honours fulfils only part of the thanks we owe to R3nnaissanc3r for the service and hard work, and the time that this man has dedicated to the region.

For long-standing service in both the political sphere of Great Britain & Ireland, Trividium is hereby made a Baron. Trividium has served in government as a Cabinet Minister, and now serves in the military. We are all thankful for the advice he has given the region over the past year.

Again, for exemplary service to the region R3nnaissanc3r is hereby awarded the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a Commoner, and is made a Knight of the Order of the Garter. Having served in four consecutive terms as Home Secretary of GB&I, and subsequently as Chancellor of the Exchequer and then Prime Minister for a afterwards, he is one of our most distinguished citizens.

Another long-standing member, Klopstock had served in Parliament and Government in a distinguished career, and it is only right that he is now honoured by being made a Knight of [the Order of] the British Empire. He has served as Foreign Secretary twice, and Prime Minister once.

Now a smaller but equally deserved award must be bestowed upon, Lethen . He is to be made an Officer of [the Order of] the British Empire in recognition of his services to the region in Government as Foreign Secretary. Congratulations!

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The Peoples Awards


Posul collects one of his many awards

For some superb commentary by the great R3nnaissanc3r see here.

Most Beloved King of GB&I: --Great Britain—
Favourite GB&I Member: r3naissanc3r
Most Evil GB&I Member: North East Somerset
GB&I Member with the Best Chat Generally: Klopstock and r3nnaissanc3r
GB&I Member You Would Trust Most in a Crisis: Klopstock and r3nnaissanc3r
Most Dignified Member of GB&I: Gililand
Most Under-rated Member: British Allies, English Sympathizers and Trividium
Biggest Spammer: Lethen
Best Retired GB&I Member Who Leaves Promises for Activity Unfulfilled:JandW
Best Foreign Ambassador: North East Somerset
Best Avatar: The Venerable Vendetta
Best Signature: Klopstock
Best RPer: Zeon-x
Best Individual Thread: The British Statesman by Posul
Worst Individual Thread: Religion by Natethegreat
Best Spam Thread: Word Survivor by North East Somerset
Best Nation Name: Klopstock and British Renaissance
Best GB&I newspaper: Free People's Gazette: Lethen.
Most likely to run off and join the circus: Posul
Most Likely to die in a bar fight: Olde Delaware
Most Likely to go to Heaven and be dissatisfied: Posul
Most likely to be addicted to his cell phone: Paquerettes
Most likely to start a revolution: Loyal British Columbia
Member most likely to be first up against the wall when the revolution comes: Posul
Person that you imagine to have the worst dress sense:Posul
Member most likely to lead his/her country one day: Posul
Best Quote: “Tact is for people without balls Leth, as you can see from my avatar, I am all about balls now.”: Posul

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From the Good Folks at Hansard


MPs gather in Westminster for the new term

The new parliamentary term which began on 13 March has seen diverse and numerous pieces of legislation brought before the Lords and the Commons, as Great Britain and Ireland seems to be entering a period of government reorganization and possible constitutional reform.

It began with the introduction of the Attorney General Creation Bill by the newly raised Duke of Cornwall, R3naissanc3r, in cooperation with the Government on 23 March. The bill sought to reform the role of the executive in the judicial process by creating a sub-cabinet level Attorney General position, responsible for prosecution and filing appeals and more broadly serving as the government’s lawyer in place of and beneath the Home Secretary. After meeting initial criticism over the impartiality of the role, amendments were made a compromise was quickly struck allowing the Lord Chief Justice to force the Attorney General to step aside if he believed a conflict of interest existed in a case. The bill as amended was passed by the House of Lords on 31 March, and was approved without objection by the House of Commons on 2 April 2007.

The Commons has likewise seen hot action early on, especially in regards to two bills seeking to reform the electoral system introduced by Windsor-Bainbridge. The first bill which would have reduced the number of candidates a citizen can vote for in a General Election, the Fair Voting Bill saw heavy debate as the electoral system as a whole was discussed at length, but the bill eventually succumbed to growing opposition and was defeated 1-8. The next attempt on the system in the form of the Parliamentary Seat Reduction Bill is currently before the House. It aims to end the practice of all candidates who are tied for a seat from being elected, and seeks to institute some kind of runoff system. The bill in facing considered amendments from multiple MPs, but appears to be generally agreeable to the House in its aims.

Other bills which have been going through parliament include a mutual defence treaty with the Anti-Liberal League which had been held over from the last term and was finally passed by the House of Lords on 21 March. Likewise a bill to establish the former imperial dominion City of London as a new protectorate made a quick run through the Commons without dissent on 4 April. Further bills are rumoured to be in the works, including a massive proposal to revisit the governing and workings of the Great British and Irish Armed Forces along with other bills to reform the intelligence services and address constitutional issues as well. Parliament looks to have a full plate in front of it for the term.

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Other Regional News

The forums are approaching the 120,000 post mark after another term of high activity levels. The most users online broke the previous record of 18 reaching 24 in early February. The regional population is hovering around 180 currently, although in the last term it touched upon 200.

The University has been active recently with up to date registers of documents held there, and over the last year has built up one of the finest collections of sources and studies in Nationstates. It is well worth a visit, and can be accessed from here.

The following Britons have recently became Citizens:


The Spinning Cylinder
The Holy Ekaj Monarchy
Arqia
Momochine




The following regions or organisations have recently had embassies granted or opened in GB&I:

Equilism
The ADN
The FRA
Cologne
Blades of Conquest
Empire of Great Britain
New Spain

The Anti-Liberal League and Great Britain and Ireland have signed a Treaty for mutual defence. We hope that this was signal the start of a long and fruitful relationship with this up and coming region and ally.



Riddim continues as UN Delegate for GB&I, with Natethegreat as UN Affairs Director. Interest was fair overall, with good interest in some issues, with discussions on education, unions and patent law. The resolutions votes held since the last Dispatch are listed below:

For (6-2) Repeal Sexual Freedoms
Against (9-0) Repeal Patent Law
For (5-2) UN Bio Agent Convention
For (9-3) UN Economics Prize
Against (10-3) Climate Refugee Commission
For (10-1) Repeal UN Biological Weapons Ban
For (10-2) Repeal Free education
For (10-2) Repeal The Right to Form Unions
For (9-1) Repeal Hydrogen Powered Vehicles
Against (5-1) Radiological Terrorism
Against (5-1 Against) Emigration Rights

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The future of GB&I remains bright.

Goodbye from the Foreign Dispatch Team till the next update in May 2007.

God Save the King!

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