===HUTORI TELEGRAPH===
MAYORALTY ISSUE THREATENS TO SPLIT CLP ONCE AGAIN
26 February 2880
The Prime Minister in Bekenial after CLP meeting today
Political anoraks will remember that during Duchess Wright's majority government, the party suffered a brief split over the issue of local mayors, with two of the Prime Minister's closest allies resigning over the party's proposals for elected mayors. Whilst the affair was short-lived, it exposed the schism between the conservatives and libertarians that has existed since the party was founded. The Prime Minister, Miss Thompson, has today decided to re-open that debate. It is, perhaps, a sign of her authority over the party that has allowed her to do so.
After a meeting of the parliamentary party to decide which way the CLP would vote on such a measure, it was decided that the Prime Minister would introduce a bill indicating that all local mayors should be elected, in an attempt to re-engage the electorate with democracy. The Prime Minister has become extremely concerned over the lack of participation in the democratic process, something that led her to partake in the infamous photo shoot. Speaking outside Parliament today, Miss Thompson said:
"Hutori is a nation that has embraced over the last few decades the fundamental principles of liberty and democracy. These principles should be spread as far and as wide as possible throughout the nation".
However, not all within the party agree, and it is interesting to note that one of the rebels under Duchess Wright, was the current Prime Minister's great-uncle, Duke Thompson. One backbench CLP MP, Ronald Butt said:
"This is a preposterous situation. We are the Conservative-Libertarian Party, and I must see it as my duty to stress the Conservative aspect. We seek to preserve and conserve the constitution as it stands. Hutori is not the sort of nation that wants to see its local leaders elected. The Prime Minister is completely wrong in doing this. What next? An elected Head of State?"
Miss Thompson dismissed such suggestions as "ludicrous". What is certain is that this is the sort of issue that will forever divide the party, but Miss Thompson's authority will be decided by this bill - it will be either consigned to the history books, or she will be confirmed as the strongest CLP leader since Duchess Wright herself.