Hutori

[sadperson]

SCARGILL "PARANOID" OF SDP/RIGHT WING COUP

October 3227


Scargill has been under pressure in recent months from business leaders over his "communist" agenda

Rumours are circulating that the Prime Minister, Arthur Scargill, is terrified at the prospect of the Social Democrats working with the HCP and FHP in the event of another hung parliament at the next general election. Scargill, who has been Prime Minister since 3221, is said to be so paranoid that he is holding secret meetings with cabinet colleagues for contingency plans in the face of a potential "betrayal" from the SDP, who have been in coalition with the Socialists since 3221. According to one backbench MP, the Prime Minister is "fearful that the SDP's movement towards the centre will leave him out in the cold as they flirt with the other parties".

It is said that Scargill's plan includes a carrot and stick approach, whereby the SDP are given more prominent cabinet roles and a far greater input into the government's policies.

This morning the Prime Minister's press secretary laughed off the rumours, suggesting that people shouldn't believe "what they read in the papers or hear from mischievous backbenchers".

Meanwhile Tony Upson MP said in a press statement that the gossip simply confirmed what people already knew:

We have here a Prime Minister who is literally power mad and hoping to cling to power in the face of poor opinion poll results and unpopular tax and spend policies. We'll soon know what the people really think in 3229

[Alaric_the_green]

Prime Minister announces departure in speech to the Socialist Party conference
October 3228


Scargill remains defiant despite his imminent retirement

Today Alfred Scargill announced his retirement in a final conference speech to his party. The Prime Minister and three time election victor received rapturous applause from the floor as he thanked his party and supporters for their years of loyal service.

The full text of the speech is here:

I'd like to start off by saying something very simple.

Thank you. Thanks to all of you, party members, party supporters, colleagues in parliament, Social Democrats...even the opposition!These past ten years have been the most satisfying and terrific of my life.

From the obscurity of opposition we Socialists became the leaders of a new deal for Hutorians. We gave every citizen food, shelter, healthcare, education and made sure the rich pay their fair share too. Now every person who lives in Hutori has a fair chance at life, and though we may not have achieved Socialism yet, we are a great deal closer today than we were ten years ago

*applause*

So what next for our party? Well, as I'm sure many of you will have guessed, I am retiring soon after the next general election. As much as I love being Prime Minister, I know when my time is over. I have led this country for nearly eight years now and it has taken its toll. Now all I want to do is retire to my cabbage patch *laughter* and watch as the next Socialist leader makes his mark on the world.

*applause*

Before I leave the stage I'd like all of you to remember one thing. There is nothing wrong with compromise. Yes, our government hasn't achieved Socialism. But as a result of our actions this country is a far better place than it would be without us. If the left starts arguing amongst themselv3es we will leave the ground open for the Tories to take power. That would be bad for Socialism, bad for the left and terrible for the Hutorian poor. Don't let committment to our principles blind us to the real threat: a Tory government.

Next year I won't be making this speech. But no matter what I do next I will always be Socialist through and through. You decide the future now. Don't let the Hutori people down.

*Thunderous Applause*

[sadperson]

UPSON WELCOMES END TO SCARGILL ERA

October 3228


Upson is quietly confident of electoral success

In an autumn conference speech today Tony Upson rallied his party together in preparation for the next general election, expected to be held in May next year. In a n aggressive speech, the Forward Hutori leader set the stage for the next election:

This government has played a risky game with our economy. One minute the Chancellor outlines sensible spending cuts, next the Prime Minister tells him to go back to the drawing board. The Prime Minister proposes a complex taxation system, the Chancellor outlines one too simplistic. Even Tweedledum and Tweedledee are scratching their heads. This coalition has been so divided that the Socialists and Social Democrats have set out their own completely separate agendas, and got away with it because of their in built hatred of the more right wing parties of Hutori. The inbuilt hatred and fear spread by this government has poisoned a moderate country, turning our own people against each other. If there is one thing friends that we must do at the next election, it is to rob them of a government that's always looking for a fight and not for a reasoned compromise. You cannot play politics with people's lives!

In a direct reference to the Prime Minister, Upson joked he would not be missed:

I think the cabbage patch about sums it up. This old, tired man has clung to office for so long I think he has been living in the past for some time. There's no need for him to return to the cabbage patch, he's been there for the last 2 years

[chamon]

WAR ON OUR DOORSTEP?

Tensions have arisen between the nation of Davostan - the nation recently liberated from the Satanic Republican Party - and the nation of Selucia. The Selucians see the ousted SRP as the true government and rightful leaders of Davostan, despite the SRP being defeated in national elections.

Free Gaduridos has pledged to support the elected Davostani government from the SRP and their Selucian allies. Hutori has a vested interest in the Davostani nation, with the Queen of Hutori's official title being HRH Queen Sarah I of Hutori and Davostan. The Hutorian Royal Family claims the territory of Davostan as part of their wider empire. The government of Hutori will have some concerns over the whole situation, with a conflict so close to home.

[Eisenherz]

SDP CHIEF CALLS "SABER-RATTLING" AS "ULTRA-MONARCHIST BABBLE"

Fierce Social Democratic Party leader Caitlin Shamrock has called recent pro-war headlines in some Hutorian newspapers as concerning, if not mere "[the] saber-rattling of an ultraconservative elite spouting ultra-monarchist babble."

The Honourable MP Caitlin Shamrock believes that the Hutorian Queen, Her Royal Majesty Sarah I, should deny any claim to the Davostan throne, particularly if the Davostanians reject the Crown.

This public statement follows many notable leftist intellectuals openly questioning the value of a monarchy in the year 3228, when many progressive and modern nations have embraced different paths in government.

[sadperson]

LANDSLIDE FOR THE LEFT AS UPSON LOSES SEAT


May 3229


Upson lost his seat, along with 39 other FHP MPs, in the party's worst election result in living memory

In a dramatic election result tonight, the left won an emphatic landslide victory which will ensure the continuation of the SDP-SP coalition. The Socialist party gained 43 seats, achieving an impressive 43% of the popular vote. The Social Democrats also made gains and increased their share of the vote.

As for the Forward Hutori party, the result was a disaster, as their leader Tony Upson lost his seat along with 4 other prominent frontbench colleagues. Upson had been placed 2nd on the Falristran regional list, and had not seen it as necessary to place himself above veteran FHP MP Carlton Froch. The party lost 10% of it's vote share, and was relegated to a distant last place behind the Hutorian Monarchists, who made relatively few losses and held their vote share. As for the Hutorian Conservatives, the result puts futher pressure onto their leader Mark Owens, as they failed to force the SDP back into 3rd place.

In a brief interview, Upson declared his intention to resign in due course:

I think the party has simply been shocked, absolutely shocked. Polling suggested we would get a similar number of votes to last time but hadn't predicted that the turnout would be so very high this time. We've lost so many decent colleagues, and I take full responsibility for the campaign. I do intend to stand as leader in due course.

More to follow

[sadperson]

UPSON STANDS DOWN, BAINES ELECTED- "FRESH START BEGINS HERE"

August 3229


Baines was elected in a clear result against rival candidate Bob Prentice

On 22nd August Eugene Baines was elected the new leader of the Forward Hutori party. Baines offered the party a new beginning, and suggested that the party needed a break with the past:

We moved too close to the right. We became something that we are not my friends, and you know it, you know it. We are a party of the people, but we weren't this year at the election. Those of our supporters who felt that in the past we offered a centrist alternative saw a party bitterly divided under a leader who was clearly too radical in his approach. For the first time we became a party held together with a brittle thread, split between left and right. I know we've got to change, and you know that too- let's get back to where we belong, where we are as a party

His rival Bob Prentice was considered to be too close to the outgoing leader Tony Upson, and has been known to be openly centre-right. Baines, notorious for his more liberal approach to economics, is considered to be the more left wing of the two. According to one former MP, the result was "revenge" for the close leadership election in 3223, when John Clinton lost by just 1146 votes.

Vicky Merton, Deputy leader of the party said she intended to carry on in her position, having been safely re-elected in May. Jack Dole has also declared his intention to carry on in his role as Chairman.

The result of the leadership election was as follows:

As set out in the party’s constitution, the leadership election will involve all party members, and use the FPTP voting system.

Turnout: of the 738,531 party members, 473,398 voted, a turnout of 64.1%

Eugene Baines 311, 023 (65.7%)
Bob Prentice 162, 375 (34.3%)


Eugene Baines is duly elected as leader of party

[Alaric_the_green]

Alfred Scargill resigns as Prime Minister, succeeded by Roger Dalton
September 3229


The new Prime Minister Roger Dalton

Today Prime Minister Alfred Scargill finally resigned, after vowing to do so at last years party conference. The Prime Minister led his party into the general election with the promise that he would give up his office for a successor afterwards. Though there was some speculation that he might stay on after the Socialists greatest ever success, it appears that he has decided to live up to his promise and resign.

After the Socialist's ultra secretive leadership selection process (dating from a time when Socialists were persecuted), the Central Committee have finally revealed who will succeed Scargill: Roger Dalton. Roger is a known as a staunch Republican and has a very fierce reputation. It seems likely that with his leadership the new government will embark on a comprehensive programme of Constitutional reform. Already legislation has been put before the house supporting abolition of the monarchy and the creation of a 'Presidency'. These next few years are likely to be some of the most traumatic in recent Hutori history as Monarchists and Republicans battle it out in Parliament. The new PM will have to be made of stern stuff if he is to survive in these interesting times.

[Eisenherz]

SDP'S SHAMROCK CALLS FOR NEW HUTORIAN ORDER


The widely popular Social Democratic Party leader Caitlin Shamrock explains the new shift in constitutional emphasis to supporters.

In a town hall meeting, inviting national and international staff, Ms. Shamrock has expressed her party's desire to support Socialist and Forward Hutori Party (FHP) calls for a presidency. Citing her party's belief in civil, class and gender equality, Shamrock strongly denounces Her Imperial Majesty Sarah I.

"We are living in a modern nation and in Hutori, I believe that anyone should be able to rise to the top. Being born into the nation's highest office sends a terrible message and allowing a more qualified and educated person to be the ultimate representative speaks of our nations' strong belief in meritocracy and egalitarianism."

Recent Socialist and Social Democratic internal polls have shown an overwhelming support for a constitutional convention, with rumours that such support is also very strong in the FHP.

[Austrur]

Traitors to the Nation

Mme. Wainwright - the leader of the Hutori Monachist Party has stated to a gathering of party supporters in Saint Anselm that she was absolutely distraught at the path the country the government is planning on taking it.

She called the Socialist-coalition traitors to the nation - "they went against the very constitution, the very values of the nation. They have uprooted nearly a millennium of culture and values all for their ever growing quest for power. The SDP has acted in a manner most befitting of an elected party to the nation.

However, the party I call the most treacherous is the Forward Hutori Party. They have betrayed the United Hutorians Alliance just to get into government. Their 14 treacherous seats gave the Socialist coalition enough seats to begin the process of removing the Monarchy, all to get into government. I believe that they, and all of their descendants will be cursed for a millennium - for betraying the nation, and the Monarch they swore to serve."

A Winter Palace spokesperson, has confirmed that Her Majesty Sarah I, Queen of Hutori and Davostan, has booked a flight out of the nation tomorrow. She said that "she would not follow the example of many deposed monarchs, and be killed by a treacherous mob. I will affirm my claim to both Thrones from my husband's homeland - Luthori, which is where I will be living whilst in exile. May God Save the Country.[/i]"

Mme. Hillary Wainwright has also said that she would be dissolving the HMP, and leaving the country.

All in all, this is an end of an era for Hutori.