BEKENIAL - Good evening. I am Martha Rennie and this is HBC Tonight.
While no party has been able to form a government, SNP-Labour Leader Andrew Macalester shocked Parliament by putting forth the first part of the Crown Dependency Treaty renegotiation for a vote. The SNP-Labour Leader took to the floor and made a speech where he claimed that the renegotiation would benefit both the Commonwealth and the Isle. In his speech he claimed to have the support of Hutori First, the party with which the SNP negotiated the new Constitution. The text of the bill can be found here:
http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php?billid=587157&vote=yes At the same time, Hutori First announced a new bill to fix the budget deficit. That bill can be found here:
http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php SNP-Labour were quick to express support the bill, with Macalester
With such great political change happening so fast, HBC has invited our political panel to assess the situation. With me are Andrew Ingram, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Williams University, Jennifer Crowder, Economics Professor at Selwyn College in Sutton, and Nakia Windhurst, Director of the Social Justice initiative at Lexington University.
Andrew, we will start with you. Good evening!
Good evening, Martha.
What is the SNP doing here? Do they even have the votes to get the new treaty passed?
I sincerely doubt it. The election saw minor parties take charge of Hutorian Politics. The so-called "legacy" parties - Labour, Hutori First, the Liberals, and the Ultrackians - all underperformed in the last election. The return of the Consumers Party may have really damaged the hopes of getting this passed. Even if all of the "legacy" parties vote FOR the new Constitution, if the National Party and Consumers vote against it, the Suttonite Constitution is dead on arrival.
Then why, Jennifer Crowder, do the SNP want to press their luck?
Mr. Macalester is a very shrewd politician. He could be playing this one of two ways. First, he could be trying to torpedo his own constitution. The new Constitution would require Sutton to stand on its own monetarily. Right now the Isle has no income tax, no sales tax, no business tax of any kind. And we can get away with that because the Commonwealth sends us a nice check with every new budget. While the new Constitution WOULD give Sutton more freedom to govern itself, it would also cut off that source of capital. The other reason is because he's done a whip count and thinks it'll pass.
Andrew Ingram, your thoughts on Prof. Crowder's conjecture?
I think it makes a lot of sense, Martha. After successive poor electoral results, Macalester is feeling the pressure from his party. He's about to lose his number one ally in Labour Leader Emma Bennett. This could all be a move to keep the cash flowing in, but still be able to go back to his base and say "Hey, I tried."
<Nakia Windhurst interrupts>
You mean to tell me you both think Macalester is trying to play his base? That's absurd.
Do you disagree, Dr. Windhurst?
Absolutely! HBC reported that Macalester was seen leaving Taylor's election headquarters, then all of sudden the SNP-Labour Coalition puts forth the Crown Dependency renegotiation AND Hutori First brings forth tax reform? Give me a break. This isn't about the base, this is about showing the voters that those two parties are capable of governing. They clearly think another election is coming.
<Crowder speaks up>
That makes sense. Macalester and Taylor seem to be getting along these days. This could be a play to unite the Center.
<Windhurst rolls her eyes and speaks>
Hutori First is not a centrist party, and the SNP's caucus partners, the Labour Party, are only SLIGHTLY to the right of the Ultrackian Socialists! There are no Centrists left in Hutori OR in Sutton, which is why we're seeing Parliament have a hard time coming up with a governing coalition.
What will come of this political gamble, Dr. Ingram.
Realistically, this is a good move for both Taylor and Macalester. If they bills pass, they get what they want. If they don't pass, it eliminates the one thing the other party is guaranteed to attack in the next election - The SNP went after Hutori First for deficit spending, Hutori First went after the SNP for taking advantage of the Crown Dependency's Suttonite budget provision. Now, because the Constitution tries to make Sutton handle its own finances, Labour won't have to defend the SNP's ability to get a lot of money without taxes in elections in the Commonwealth. AND, because Hutori First attempted tax reform, SNP-Labour can't attack them nationally for poor stewardship of the purse.
Any last thoughts, Drs. Windhurst or Crowder?
<Crowder speaks first>
Realistically, we could have all of this completely wrong - they could actually, sincerely want to better the lives of their constituents. Taylor like responsible spending, and Macalester wants a free and open Sutton. These bills will accomplish both.
<Windhurst gets the last word>
We'll see what happens, because I just don't see a cabinet being formed any time soon.
Well if a cabinet does form, HBC Tonight will be there to discuss it with our crack panel of political analysts. This is Martha Rennie, signing off. Good night and godspeed.