[Forum game] Westminster Bubble: 2015

[sealy300]

​

Intro:

Hello and welcome to "Westminster Bubble: 2015" This is a game where you shall control the politicians, journalists, spin doctors and other people involved in the running of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I have never run a game before and this will likely go down in a horrific spiral of fire, but let’s try anyways! The focus of your game is to lead your party, or political ideals, to personal fulfillment during the parliamentary years of 2015 to 2020 in an alternative history scenario with a super hung parliament. What your aims are, ambitions and goals for this fair nation of ours are yours, but as with every action in a democracy: things will not be easy for either the government or the opposition.

The year is 2015, and the UK has had another election. After 5 years of austerity under the Con-lib coalition under David Davis and Vince cable, the nation gave a resounding rejection of the present government. However, it also gave no clear indication who they wished to run the government: creating a hung parliament requiring more than two parties to reach an agreement. With 87% turnout and the AV system, the UK has produced some of its most hung results since the system was first introduced under Blair in 2000. As the main three parties fall, other more fringe nes have come to prominence, and now seek to capture a place in the government. This is the present state of the Westminster Bubble, and it is your role to guide the nation through this period of weakness and instability.


Mechanically the game will be light: favouring RP and more naturalistic systems than absolute mechanics with rigid mathematics. As such the voting system is mostly me eyeballing the amount of voters going for something and seeing how the parties would vote in real life. This does not mean, however, that player action is discouraged: on contraire, it is favoured. If you make a case for a common sense piece of legislation, or are passionately involved for a cause that is t is able to win over your less cynical colleges, then you will gain support for it.


Orders, bills and actions:
The government gets as many bills as it likes, but it should be wary as to whipping to the maximum extent. There are three types of whip, a one line (weak) two line (decently strong) and three line (vote for this or you die). These may be in favour or against whipping for a contentious issue: like a declaration of war or on a moral issue, may bring ruin upon your party. Free votes are always an option, it should be noted. Legislation is unlimited, but don’t expect everything you propose to get passed: the commons can be an cruel and vindictive place. If, as leader of the government, the opposition or some other ministerial role you wish to send orders, go ahead and do them in a format you prefer.


General rules:

1. Be awesome to eachother
2. I am always right (or something I mean it is quite common to put that on OT games but I’m only human afterall, don’t put the blame on me)
3. For the love of god follow the forum rules I do not want to get banned.
4. If you godmod, I shall smite these like Yahweh did Gomorrah.
5. Please try to keep to your party’s actual beliefs and do some research, I do not want a europhile UKIP MP m’kay?
6. If in doubt, see rule 2.

Char signup:
I am allowing both fictional and real people in this game, but a few words of warning First if you are going to be a real person of import (party leader, major figure OTL ect), please contact me first for approval, if you want to be your local MP or something, yeah knock yourself out. If you want to be fictional, do not expect a leading role straight away, also try to avoid using major constituencies. If you need me to identify a constituency for your char, PM me. Here’s a template:

Name:
Age:
Party:
Nationality [kinda important, a Scot will have different roles ect]:
Time in parliament:
Stances:
Bio:

FAQ:
“But Seal, none of this makes sense!”
Not a question, but yeah, this game was born of “what happens if we put other to 100% in an election modeler I found”, so yeah, not quite realistic per se: but interesting nonetheless.
"Can I still sign-up?"
Of course!


Our IRC is #WiR_Main on airlock Irc, our discord is here: https://discord.gg/sMS8qq5

 

[sealy300]

​

The current state of the House of Commons:
650 seats in Parliament
326 needed for a majority [323 for working majority]

National Parties of Import:
Labour: 251 [David Miliband] -11
Conservative: 246 [David Davis] -35
Liberal Democrats: 61 [Vince Cable] -18
UKIP: 30, [Nigel Farage] +30
Greens: 19 [Caroline Lucas] +18

Regional Parties:
SNP: 10 [Alex Salmond] +4
Plaid Cymru [no formal leader in Westminster]: 6 +3
Scottish Greens [no formal leader in Westminster] : 2 {Glasgow North, Edinburgh East} +2

Other [no players bar Galloway, Taylor and MacCormack]:
{Bradford West}, George Galloway, Respect +-0
{East Devon}, Claire Wright, Independent
{Wyre Forest}, Richard Taylor, National Health Action
{Flyde}, Mike Hill, Independent
{Na H Eileanan an Iar (AKA the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides)}, John Mccormack, [Scottish] Christian Party
{Buckingham}, John Bercow, Independent (former tory), Speaker of the House of Commons.



Northern Ireland [one player each, none for Sinn Féin]:
Democratic Unionist Party (U) [Nigel Dodds]: 8 -1
Sinn Féin (N, Abstentionist): 5 +-0
Ulster Unionist Party (U): 1 +1
Social Democratic and Labour Party (N): 3 +-0
{North Down}, Sylvia Hermon, Independent

Spoiler: A quick rundown of the parties

Parties of Import:
The Labour Party (Centre-left, left: social democrat (trad), Social Democracy (third way) democratic socialist): Formally linked with the english and welsh trade union system, the Labour party was the leading party of socialism in the UK. However, after the great wilderness of the 1980s, the party moved to the centre, with the ideology of “Blairism”; akin to Clintonism, has seen it become firmly a social democratic party. After Blair resigned in 2007, David Miliband, seen as the continuity candidate, won a leadership against Brown. He held an immediate election and won it, with a wafer thin majority. This lasted until 2010, which saw another election called due to by elections eroding Labour’s majority. This election, under the AV system that had been introduced in 1999 under Blair, saw large tory and lib dem gains at the expense of labour, and the two form a coalition government. After a brief leadership contest, or “The referendum on David”, he was returned as leader with the intent to lead the country once more. He says he intends to form a “progressive government”, and seeks to lead britain after 5 years of austerity.



Conservative and Unionist Party (centre-right, right: One Nation Conservatism, Liberal Conservatism, Paleoconservatives and Thatcherism): The conservative and unionist party has recently undergone a transformation from the old party of traditions found floundering in the wake of the loss of its greatest peacetime Prime Minister, into a new force renewed in the cause of social mobility, national sovereignty and civil liberties. The ascension of David Davis: a libertarian eurosceptic, to the leadership of the party has seen it gain new momentum: momentum it found congruent to coalition with the liberal democrats. However, as time marched on and the issues with the union continued: the failure of Davis to secure a vote on membership of the EU with support from the liberal democrats saw much of his eurosceptic credibility dry up, and allowed UKIP to flourish. They have fallen from their place of the last election, yet Davis is determined to continue his cause for a referendum on a British exit (or BrExit) from the European Union and continue his vision of a “Land of hope and glory, mother of the free”.



Liberal Democrats (Centre-left, Centre, Centre-right: Social Liberalism, Market Liberalism, Social Democracy [third way]): The party of the centre has risen high since it’s humble starts as the alliance. Economically centrist, pro-Europe and for the protection of civil liberties in the age of terror laws. As such, they found perfect partners in the government of David Davis’ conservatives. The so-called coalition of equals did much to further the cause of the party in many areas. However, as austerity hit, the left wing of the party became more dismayed. However the Orange Book leader of Vince Cable held firm: committed to his cause of a social liberal free market for the betterment of Britain. The last election saw them somewhat punished for their actions in coalition, but their firm stance on the EU garnered them many supporters from Europhiles and showed to many that the lib dems could actually hold their own in government. They have been returned with fewer MPs, but still a commanding cohort of 61 members: they will likely be in the next government.



United Kingdom Independence Party (Broad-tent: Right Wing Populism (leading faction), Economic nationalism [third way] (minority faction), Paleoconservatism (minority faction), Democratic socialism (minority faction)): The standard bearer of Euroscepticism, UKIP is a single issue party that calls for exit from the EU. However, with their victory in the recent election has been down to three factors: the defection of tory MPs (who make up the ‘BlueKipper’ faction), the ascension of eurosceptic labour voters (the Lexiteers) and the Old, Populist cohort of Faragists. The party; while split between three sets of social, economic and political policy, are united in their wish for exit from the European union. Their main demand for any agreement will be an in-out referendum ASAP, but as for other areas of policy, there could be some great issue internally over that.

Green Party (Of England and Wales) (Left: Ecosocialism, Green politics): A left wing environmentalist party, the Greens have done well to suck-up much of the lost left wing vote of Labour. Pro-EU, social justice oriented and ecologist in nature, the party has managed to strike a chord with many in rural areas fearing the expansion of the cities, and who wish to keep this a green and pleasant land. However, their “program for green farming” managed to win over many rural areas: including proposals for massive green subsidies to sponsor biofuel production and push for DOM energy schemes. The Chord they struck among the “Green Growers” has seen them come into a position of decent relevance.









Scottish National Party: The SNP, once the party of rural, agrarian, regionalist Scotland, has evolved since the failed independence referendum of 2013 into a more Urbanite, progressive left wing collection of parties. This progression from Highland to belt has lost it lots of its rural votes though: to the extent that in many of its former heartlands it has been supplanted by the nearest unionist counterpart. The increased turnout of voters did not help it, as the unionist vote share also came out to vote. Naturally, it now finds itself most powerful in the cities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee: the independence three. The SNP still campaigns for more powers for the Scottish parliament, and would want to form a progressive coalition to end austerity, ensure continued membership of the EU and build a more socially minded UK. It has made reference that exit of the EU on bad terms could be cause for another push for independence.



Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales: PLaid Cymru is a regionalist, leftwing party that seeks great rights for Wales, although is not overtly separatist. Their interests align with the greens and SNP, with whom they would seek to form a progressive pact



The Scottish Greens: Aligned with the SNP, the greens take a stance further left: being overtly republican, still separatist and pushing for eco-socialism. They say they aren’t willing to work with any coalition that does not contain the SNP nor offers an EU referendum.





Independents:
George Galloway, ejected from Labour for anti-war campaigning, he is hard left and says he will refuse to prop up any labour government. He has a pro-islamic stance, and is decidedly anti-israel.



Northern Irish: (One player each, none for SF)
Sinn Féin: Irish Republican party that are left-wing, do not take their seats in Westminster.


Democratic Unionist Party: Hard Right but economically interventionist, they are the radical side of unionism. Due to their rather radical stances on some certain social issues, they are a risky ally to have. Also Eurosceptic.



Ulster Unionist Party: Aligned with the conservative party in Northern Ireland, they share the majority of their views.



Social-Democratic And Labour Party: Effectively the labour party of northern ireland, they are social democrats that favour regional devolution. They are officially nationalist, but do not seek succession to the republic in any meaningful manner.



Alliance Party: Lib dem party of NI, non sectarian but did not support them in government due to austerity policies.

 

[sealy300]

Character list:
Members of Parliament
Nigel Farage, MP for Thanet South (UKIP): Max
George Galloway, MP for Bradford West (RESPECT): Noco
Nigel Dodds, MP for Belfast North (DUP): Fingon
Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead (Conservative and Unionist): Shynka
Mark Durkan, MP for Foyle (SDLP): Tyriet
Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset (Conservative and Unionist): Kinghigh
Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North (Labour): Cheef
John Clark, MP for Croydon Central (Labour): BlackCrown
Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham (Liberal Democrat): Gorgan
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion (Green [Eng & Wal]): JCan.
Peter P. Mandelson, MP for Hartlepool (UKIP): Cleeque
David Miliband, MP for South Shields (Labour): Keinwyn
Ken Clarke, MP for Rushcliffe (Conservative and Unionist): Watercress
Ruth Davidson, MP for Edinburgh South-West (Conservative and Unionist): Spitfire

Other Persons of import
"The Doctor" [spin doctor]: Dadarian.
@r_h_y_s [Vice Journo]: DenselyBlair
Pythagoras of Samos: Qwerty

 

[sealy300]

Still mine

 

[sealy300]

GO CRAZY (but not too crazy pls)

 

[JCan]

Sub.

I'll have a proper read later

 

[Sithlent]

Looks good, I'll try to join in ASAP!!!

 

[Shynka]

​

Name: Mummy May, MP for Maidenhead
Party: Conservative
Nationality: ENGLISH
Time in parliament: Since May, 1997
Stances:
Pro-EU
Pro-Legal and Merit Based Immigration
Pro-Safe Internet
Pro-Fox Hunting
Pro-Sensible Drug Laws
Pro-Freezing Pensioners
Pro-Community Policing
Bio: https://twitter.com/theresa_may

 

[Noco19]

George Galloway​

Age: 62
Party: Respect Party
Nationality: Scottish
Time in parliament: MP for Glasgow Kelvin (1987-1997), MP for Bethnal Green and Bow (2005-2010), MP for Bradford West (2012-Present)
Stances: Pro-Islam, Anti-Zionism, Pro-Socialism, Anti-Capitalism, Anti-War, Anti-Globalization, Anti-Imperialism, Euroskeptic
Biography:

Eldest of three, Galloway born in Dundee to George Galloway Senior, a Scottish trade unionist, and an Irish mother, Sheila née Reilly. While his father was patriotic, Galloway took his views chiefly from his mother, who held sympathies towards Irish republicanism. Describing himself as "born in an attic in a slum tenement in the Irish quarter of Dundee, which is known as Tipperary," Galloway nevertheless shared Marxist ideals with his father.

First a Labourist, Galloway served as the youngest Chairman of Scottish Labour Party in 1981, first becoming a MP in 1987. Known for his strong stances against war, most notably the British activities in Iraq, Galloway was expelled from the party in 2003 for "bringing the party into disrepute" following controversial calls of resistance to Arab fighters.

Following this, Galloway would bind together the "red, green, anti-war, Muslim, and other social constituencies radicalized by the war," and in cooperation with the Socialist Workers Party in England and Wales, formed the Respect - The Unity Coalition, simply known as Respect. In the opinion of Nick Cohen of The Observer, it was an "alliance... between the Trotskyist far left and the Islamic far right." Or as Christopher Hitchens expressed it, "The servants of the one god finally meet the votaries of the one-party state".

Regardless, Respect grew and earned seats in local elections, but would schism as early as 2007, split primarily between the SWP and the so-called Respect Renewal led by Galloway and Salma Yaqoob. Following this period, Respect would go on a downward spiral, hurried along by controversial statements by Galloway in 2012, which saw then-leader Yaqoob leave the party.

Now in 2015, Respect barely clings to existence, with George Galloway just narrowly holding his position as MP for Bradford West. Highly controversial, holding strong beliefs, and seemingly hostile to all parties including Labour, it was yet to be seen what Galloway would do.

 

[tyriet]

Name: Mark Durkan
Age: 55
Party: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Nationality: Northern Irish
Time in parliament: Since 2005 for Foyle
Stances:

Pro-EU
Uphold the Good Friday Agreement
Pro-Gay Rights
Progressivism
Social Democracy


Bio: Mark Durkan serves as the MP for Foyle since 2005, having been the Leader of the SDLP since 2001 and until 2010. He was also a key member of the negotiations surrounding the Good Friday Agreement.

 

[Maxwell500]

Nigel Farage, MP for Thanet South
Leader of the UK Independence Party

"I think frankly when it comes to chaos you ain't seen nothing yet."​

 

[BlackCrown]

Name: John Clark
Age: 29
Party: Labour Party
Nationality: Anglo
Time in parliament: 5 years (since May 2010)
Stances:

Pro-EU
Pro-Nato
Pro-Gay Rights
Progressivism
Social Democracy
Internationalist

Bio: Born into a modestly wealthy family, Clark was generous with his money and a staunch political activist. Several sizable donations to local institutions and organizations, as well as good press, has a made him a hero among the local populous, and granted him a strong social media presence. These two factors have allowed him to quickly rise up the political ladder, culminating in his election to the position of MP in 2005. Though he has a strong backing from his home area, he is largely unknown in other regions of the UK and has few friends in Parliament.

 

[99KingHigh]

JRM

more later​

 

[MastahCheef117]

JEREMY CORBYN, MP
Chairman of Stop the War Coalition
​

Age: 66 (born 26 May 1949)
Party: Labour
Nationality: A N G L O
Time in parliament: 32 years (assumed office 9 June 1983)
Stances: Anti-Tory

Economy:

Increased taxes on upper classes
Anti-austerity
Re-nationalization of British Rail
Living wage​

Politics:

United Ireland
filthy Republican
Consolidation of the Constitution into a single document
Devolution to Scotland and Wales​

Foreign policy:

Anti-interventionist
Anti-NATO
Nuclear disarmament​

​

Bio: Corbyn was born in 1949 and moved from his hometown of Kington St Michael to Pave Lane at the age of seven. While in primary school, he developed an interest in politics and socialism. He left school at 18 and worked both as a reporter and as a trade union representative. In 1974 he was elected as a local councillor and served until 1983, when he successfully stood for Islington North's seat in Parliament. Since then, he has been an outspoken backbencher in the left wing of the Labour Party.

 

[Fingon888]

​

Name: Nigel Dodds
Age: 57
Party: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
Nationality: Northern Irish
Time in parliament: 14 years (Since June 7th, 2001)
Stances:
Ulster unionism
Euroscepticism
Fiscal Conservatism
Social Conservatism
Bio: Nigel Dodds was born in Londonderry on the 20th of August, 1958. Mr. Dodds studied law at St. John's College, Cambridge with honors. He returned to Northern Ireland and served well as a barrister. Mr. Dodds worked at the Secretariat of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1996. He was elected to the Belfast City Council in 1985. The following year he and then-DUP Leader Ian Paisley attended a wake for Ulster Volunteer Force leader John Bingham. Of course some people would call that forthright organization terrorists, but those people are republican agitators. Mr. Dodds became the youngest Lord Mayor of Belfast (at the age of 29) in 1988 serving again in 1992. He was elected to the Northern Irish Assembly for Belfast North in 1998 and served until 2010. He was further elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 2001. He is married to Diane Dodds who is a DUP MEP. They have one son and one daughter together.

 

[Gorganslayer]

reserved for Vince Cable / Lid Dems

 

[JCan]

Name: Caroline Lucas

Age: 54

Party: Green Party (Of England and Wales)

Nationality: British

Time in parliament: 5 years (Assumed office 6 May 2010)

Stances:

1. Commitment to social justice and environmentalism, supporting a "radical transformation of society for the benefit of all, and for the planet as a whole". The threats to economic, social and environmental wellbeing are considered "part of the same problem", and "solving one of these crises cannot be achieved without solving the others."
2. Preservation of other species, because the human race "depends on the diversity of the natural world for its existence".
3. "A sustainable society" to guarantee humanity's long-term future, given that physical resources are finite.
4. "Basic material security" as a universal, permanent entitlement.
5. Actions to "take account of the wellbeing of other nations, other species, and future generations", not advancing "our well-being to the detriment of theirs".
6. "Voluntary co-operation between empowered individuals in a democratic society, free from discrimination whether based on race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, social origin or any other prejudice", as the basis of a "healthy society".
7. Decisions to be made "at the closest practical level to those affected by them" to "emphasise democratic participation and accountability".
8. Non-violent solutions to conflict, seeking lasting settlement, taking into account "the interests of minorities and future generations".
9. End the use of "narrow economic indicators" to measure society's success. Instead "take account of factors affecting the quality of life for all people: personal freedom, social equity, health, happiness and human fulfilment".
10. Use "a variety of methods, including lifestyle changes, to help effect progress", in addition to electoral politics.

Lucas is known as a campaigner and writer on green economics, localisation, alternatives to globalisation, trade justice, animal welfare and food. In her time as a politician and activist, she has worked with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and think-tanks, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Oxfam.

Bio:
After being "utterly inspired" by Jonathon Porritt's book Seeing Green, Lucas joined the Green Party in 1986. Soon afterwards she became the party's National Press Officer (1987–89) and Co-Chair (1989–90). Lucas has a reputation as a party moderniser, in terms of internal slang, a "spiky" rather than a "fluffy". When the Green Party became three separate parties in 1990 for the constituent parts of the United Kingdom, she joined the Green Party of England and Wales. Lucas served as their General Election Speaker from 1991 (for the following year's general election) and a Regional Council Member from 1997. Lucas's first success in an election came when she gained the Green Party's second council seat in the UK on Oxfordshire County Council, which she held between 1993 and 1997.

Lucas was elected the first Leader of the Green Party in 2008 and was elected to represent the constituency of Brighton Pavilion in the 2010 general election. She stood down as party leader in 2012 to devote more time to her parliamentary duties and focus on an ultimately successful campaign to be re-elected as an MP.

Was MEP for South East England (1999 - 2010)

Current MP for Brighton Pavilion

 

[Cleeque]

Mandelson, Peter Phillip
(21st of October, 1970 (45yrld))
MP for Hartlepool
English
In Parliament since 2015 election (0 years)
United Kingdom Independence Party

Populism
Socialism
Railway-re-nationalizationism
Anti-immigrationism
Anti-neoconservatism
Anti-neoliberalism
Anti-apologism
Anti-gay/trans
Anti-EU
Anti-Interventionism
Pro-Working-Class
Anti-bureaucrat/corruptionaire
Anti-separatist

Middle-upper class Englishman from Urban York, former Labour Party Member disillusioned by Extreme Social Liberalism and EU Bureaucracy. Retained socialist economic views, mixed with social conservatism and accute British Nationalism. Seen as a UKIP Candidate for the Rural Conservative and Labour North, one to challenge the established parties by mixing the primary values of the Northern English Population - Social Conservatism and Economic Leftism.

​

 

[Keinwyn]

The Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP
Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 2007-2010​

 

[Luftwafer]

Colin is there somewhere​

Name: Colin Wheatsmith
Age: 35
Party: Labour
Nationality: English
Time in parliament: Elected in 2010
Stances: Left-wing Populism, Railway nationalisation, anti-EU, anti-establishment
Bio: Was born in a very poor white family in urban Peterborough. For many years he was too poor to afford more than one pair of shoes, as he had 8 siblings. Something he blamed on Thatcher closing the mines. However he showed them all, by attending the worst school in Peterborough, being stabbed numerous times. He won in the end though, failing to get into University, as he was too poor, something he blamed on the EU, and the establishment stopping the lower classes getting into power. From then on he worked numerous jobs, Sports Direct, a factory producing cheap knives and most impressively a train carriage cleaner. However age 28, his father died in luton, from being stabbed. He was not able to attend his funeral as the trains ran late. Something he blamed on the privatised railways. This led to him standing for the seat of Peterborough in 2010 aged 30, winning just about. Getting a larger majority in 2015.