The War to End All Wars has come to its bloody end. See to it that you win the peace.
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The Land of Hope and Glory: A UK Government Quest.
- Thread starter nachtingale
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OP
nachtingale
20. On that "honk, mimimi" type beat everyday.
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The Land of Hope and Glory
A Quest About the Trials and Tribulations of the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Government.
The announcement of the results of the 1918 election would come as no shock to those who knew well enough the mood of the nation at that very moment. Negotiations would occur in the great backrooms of British politicking, between the hitherto allied parties of the Tory and Whiggery powers, bound together by the wartime coalition, to herald a peaceful transition of government, as none would want to see chaos so soon after the war.
Lists would be handed out by those in power, officially sanctioning candidates for the so-called "Coalition Ticket" between the Conservative and Liberal parties, ensuring that there would be no split vote against the two traditional centers of British political life. The election would thusly be known as the "coupon election", with even prominent persons such as Sir Stanley Baldwin remarking that there were now, in this new parliament, "a lot of hard-faced men who look as if they had done very well out of the war."
The end of the Great War would be welcomed greatly by the population, eager to be rid of the wartime policies that were enacted by the Liberal government under PM Lloyd George and to welcome back an age of peace and prosperity. It was a peace that would be sorely needed with the chaos on the continent, as the exhausted Anglo-French armies of the Western Entente would be thoroughly exhausted by the last offensives of the Great War in the autumn, helped on by the outbreak of a German Revolution against the Kaiser and the Prussian Monarchy in general. Further east, the Soviet Revolution would be in full swing, the question of intervention looming greatly over the governments of liberal Western Europe as Lenin's Reds swept the cities.
It was the end of an era in Europe, the death of a great deal of monarchies.
Lists would be handed out by those in power, officially sanctioning candidates for the so-called "Coalition Ticket" between the Conservative and Liberal parties, ensuring that there would be no split vote against the two traditional centers of British political life. The election would thusly be known as the "coupon election", with even prominent persons such as Sir Stanley Baldwin remarking that there were now, in this new parliament, "a lot of hard-faced men who look as if they had done very well out of the war."
The end of the Great War would be welcomed greatly by the population, eager to be rid of the wartime policies that were enacted by the Liberal government under PM Lloyd George and to welcome back an age of peace and prosperity. It was a peace that would be sorely needed with the chaos on the continent, as the exhausted Anglo-French armies of the Western Entente would be thoroughly exhausted by the last offensives of the Great War in the autumn, helped on by the outbreak of a German Revolution against the Kaiser and the Prussian Monarchy in general. Further east, the Soviet Revolution would be in full swing, the question of intervention looming greatly over the governments of liberal Western Europe as Lenin's Reds swept the cities.
It was the end of an era in Europe, the death of a great deal of monarchies.
Indeed, the victory of the Conservative-Liberal Coalition would herald the coming of the new age in the British Empire as well, as they swept an excess of 500 seats in total, more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament, many of them the aforementioned "coupon men". Noticeably however, the parity that Prime Minister Lloyd George's party of coalition Liberals had once enjoyed with the Conservatives would shrink drastically, a consequence of the infighting with Asquith's men and the strengthening of Conservative influence in the coalition listing appropriations as a result. Though quieted by the popularity of the wartime PM for now, already, grumblings would appear within the Conservative Party for the ascension of one of their own men, minor yet still, though growing incessantly.
Across the island of Great Britain, Ireland itself slumbers awake, as the nationalist movement now catches full steam in the peace of the Great War, amassing a great deal of seats and votes all across that Emerald Isle. Rumors abound of a revolt, of calls for independence, but for now, the men of Sinn Féin are but content to exclaim their refusal to sit in parliament, both sides of the Irish Sea watching each other to see who would fire the first shot. Others still talk of revolution, like that of the Bolsheviks, in our own fair isles, yet surely they would not despoil our glory as such, right?
It is in this situation that the newly re-elected PM Lloyd George begins yet another (hopefully) successful career in office, and may God grant him the good grace and luck to do so…
A/N: Hello one and all, some of you may recognize me from my previous quest, some of you may be new, but I hope you'll enjoy this new quest of mine all the same! This quest is heavily inspired by some recent readings on UK history during this particularly turbulent period of it's history, that being the 1920s, the great explosion of political activity in the aftermath of the greatest of all wars up until then, and will see you questers placed in the position of PMship of the most vast Empire the world has ever seen.
It will not be a stable position, PMs will come and go as mistakes are made and elections won/lost. That said, good luck and I hope you all have fun!
Prologue: The Glasgow Strike.
nachtingale
20. On that "honk, mimimi" type beat everyday.
- Location
- Malaysia
- Pronouns
- He/They
The Giant of British Politics.
Political fraction would not be the chief concern of Lloyd George however, not now.
At home in Britain, the trade unions had made a patriotic pledge to support the war effort, many making considerable efforts to contain any efforts that might impede war production. Now, however, with the war ended, the trade unions would not remain content with their positions within the economy, most especially as the beginnings of demobilization proceed apace with the end of the war, the first regiments of soldiers returning to the British Isles faced with the prospect of finding employment in a stretched economy.
Thankfully, with the return of so many hungry consumers to their homes, the government would be allowed some reprieve, as the great manufacturing centers of England found themselves with great demands for consumer goods and thusly a great demand for more production, and more workers. However, the most radical of the trade unions, most especially those of the ilk of the Clydes' Workers Committee, a group of anti-war radicals based out of Glasgow, would almost immediately declare and agitate for strike action to be taken against the industries.
Chiefly demanding for the reduction of labor hours, by the middle of January, almost 100,000 Scottish workers would be up in arms in support of the calls for the so-called "8 hour workday". Taking the initiative, several local police departments were already at work breaking up the rabblerousers, though the effectiveness of their tactics seems to have grown ever the more dubious as the days go by, with even rumors of the red flag being flung up high atop Glasgow's town halls.
Pressure mounts from the government to mount an official response, with many already calling for a quick and decisive routing of the strikers by calling in still mobilized soldiers to end their Glasgow revolt, hopefully setting an example for others who would wish to follow the calls of the Clyde Committee. A minority of Coalition Liberals, and the one remaining Labour MP in the coalition, on the other hand, would request for some sort of compromise to be achieved, opposing calls for an immediate and violent suppression of the strikers, hopefully wearing the strikers down enough to convince them to accept lesser compromises for an end to the strike, fearing as well a larger and more general uprising in response as was the case in Russia.
The Prime Minister, upon taking in all the advice would ultimately decide to…
At home in Britain, the trade unions had made a patriotic pledge to support the war effort, many making considerable efforts to contain any efforts that might impede war production. Now, however, with the war ended, the trade unions would not remain content with their positions within the economy, most especially as the beginnings of demobilization proceed apace with the end of the war, the first regiments of soldiers returning to the British Isles faced with the prospect of finding employment in a stretched economy.
Thankfully, with the return of so many hungry consumers to their homes, the government would be allowed some reprieve, as the great manufacturing centers of England found themselves with great demands for consumer goods and thusly a great demand for more production, and more workers. However, the most radical of the trade unions, most especially those of the ilk of the Clydes' Workers Committee, a group of anti-war radicals based out of Glasgow, would almost immediately declare and agitate for strike action to be taken against the industries.
Chiefly demanding for the reduction of labor hours, by the middle of January, almost 100,000 Scottish workers would be up in arms in support of the calls for the so-called "8 hour workday". Taking the initiative, several local police departments were already at work breaking up the rabblerousers, though the effectiveness of their tactics seems to have grown ever the more dubious as the days go by, with even rumors of the red flag being flung up high atop Glasgow's town halls.
Pressure mounts from the government to mount an official response, with many already calling for a quick and decisive routing of the strikers by calling in still mobilized soldiers to end their Glasgow revolt, hopefully setting an example for others who would wish to follow the calls of the Clyde Committee. A minority of Coalition Liberals, and the one remaining Labour MP in the coalition, on the other hand, would request for some sort of compromise to be achieved, opposing calls for an immediate and violent suppression of the strikers, hopefully wearing the strikers down enough to convince them to accept lesser compromises for an end to the strike, fearing as well a larger and more general uprising in response as was the case in Russia.
The Prime Minister, upon taking in all the advice would ultimately decide to…
[] Send in the troops.
Damn the strikers, the soldiers will strike them back!
+ Opinion with the Conservative and Liberal Party
- Opinion with the Labour Party
[] Negotiate a settlement.
Perhaps the strikers have a point…?
-- Opinion with the Conservative Party
+ Opinion with the Labour Party
Current Situation:
Conservative Party (Bonar Law)
Strength in Parliament: Overwhelming
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion ++, Dependent on Choices)
The Lesser Partner (Opinion -)
Liberal Party (Lloyd George/Current PC)
Strength in Parliament: Sizeable
Wartime PM (Opinion ++++, Decaying)
The Liberal Splitter (Opinion -)
The Old Man of Government (Opinion ++)
Liberal Party (Asquith)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Traitor and Deceiver (Opinion ----)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion ++, Dependent on Choices)
Labour Party (William Adamson)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Wartime PM (Opinion ++, Decaying)
Conservative Puppet (Opinion -)
King of England (George V)
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Mandate of the People (Opinion ++)
Governing it Right (Opinion +)
Strength in Parliament: Overwhelming
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion ++, Dependent on Choices)
The Lesser Partner (Opinion -)
Liberal Party (Lloyd George/Current PC)
Strength in Parliament: Sizeable
Wartime PM (Opinion ++++, Decaying)
The Liberal Splitter (Opinion -)
The Old Man of Government (Opinion ++)
Liberal Party (Asquith)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Traitor and Deceiver (Opinion ----)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion ++, Dependent on Choices)
Labour Party (William Adamson)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Wartime PM (Opinion ++, Decaying)
Conservative Puppet (Opinion -)
King of England (George V)
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Mandate of the People (Opinion ++)
Governing it Right (Opinion +)
Public Opinion: Positive
Unemployment: Slowly Rising
Labor Unrest: Steadily Rising (Assumed)
Labor Radicalization: Concerning (Assumed)
A/N: Not all effects of your actions will be made immediately known in the votes, and some may carry repercussions long after they have been enacted. Voting is immediately open.
Last edited:
Voting Closed.
nachtingale
20. On that "honk, mimimi" type beat everyday.
- Location
- Malaysia
- Pronouns
- He/They
That's a lotta votes, thx!
Prologue: The Irish Question.
nachtingale
20. On that "honk, mimimi" type beat everyday.
- Location
- Malaysia
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Send in the troops.
"We were carrying on a strike, when we ought to have been making a revolution."
- William Gallacher.
"We pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades in arms to the cause of its [Irish Republic] freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations."
- Text of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
Bonar makes a good point...
+ Conservative Party Opinion
+ Liberal Party (Lloyd George) Opinion
- Government Budget
Current Situation:
Public Opinion: Positive
Unemployment: Slowly Rising
Labor Unrest: Declining (Assumed)
Labor Radicalization: Steady (Assumed)
Government Budget: Worryingly Low
A/N: Another vote comes hither!
"We were carrying on a strike, when we ought to have been making a revolution."
- William Gallacher.
The Glasgow Strike of January 1919 would not be the last time that the workers of the Scottish city declared their intent to cease the operation of British industry, nor would it be the last time the Clyde's Worker Committee (CWC) would give the government much headache for which to deal with the threat of socialist revolution on these fair isles. The bobbies of Glasgow would see to it that the riotous crowds of the Scottish working population were quieted down, as the lack of coordination between the more conciliatory laborites and those of a more Bolshevik bent would see to it that the strike would flounder by the end of January.
The actions of the Coalition government under Lloyd George would prove to be a tone-setter for their opinions regarding the continued rabblerousing of militant labor and the trade unions, as with the swift and utter defeat of the CWC's calls for a national strike action, the shop stewards of England beyond the bloody streets of Glasgow would, one by one, slink back into their meek existences as the collared dogs of the state. It would not stop the growing issue of unemployment however, as the growing concern of demobilization would continue to loom over the government heading into February.
Strikes would continue to occur, no doubt, over that very issue, but the vaunted general strike would not come yet, as the unions found themselves trembling against the power of the government's gun for now.
A power that was, let's say, less appreciated elsewhere...
The actions of the Coalition government under Lloyd George would prove to be a tone-setter for their opinions regarding the continued rabblerousing of militant labor and the trade unions, as with the swift and utter defeat of the CWC's calls for a national strike action, the shop stewards of England beyond the bloody streets of Glasgow would, one by one, slink back into their meek existences as the collared dogs of the state. It would not stop the growing issue of unemployment however, as the growing concern of demobilization would continue to loom over the government heading into February.
Strikes would continue to occur, no doubt, over that very issue, but the vaunted general strike would not come yet, as the unions found themselves trembling against the power of the government's gun for now.
A power that was, let's say, less appreciated elsewhere...
Labor Radicalism Reduced (?)
Labor Unrest Reduced (?)
Conservative Party Opinion +
Liberal Party Opinion +
Labor Party Opinion -
Government Deficit Worsens
Unemployment Grows
Labor Unrest Reduced (?)
Conservative Party Opinion +
Liberal Party Opinion +
Labor Party Opinion -
Government Deficit Worsens
Unemployment Grows
"We pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades in arms to the cause of its [Irish Republic] freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations."
- Text of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
The long-existing headache of the lands west of England herself, that being those lands belonging to the Emerald Isle and her good people, had festered long enough that it had become a issue greatly despised by any good MP sitting in Parliament. The long sought-after relief of the Home Rule Act had been rather ruthlessly blocked with the coming of the great European conflagration, and it seems that for many an Irishman, the delay of such a vital bill for the progression of Irish independence had been the last straw in the camel's back.
With the sweeping victory of the Sinn Féin party (literally, We Ourselves) against the predominant tide of Irish Unionist candidates on the island itself, many had expected them to push for the finalization of the Home Rule Act, thus granting them their own Parliament from which they could agitate further for eventual Dominionship or some other such agreement within the Empire. It was hoped that their more radical members were not composed of the majority of the party, and that they would moderate their positions once in power, for surely they would not risk war with the largest Empire on Earth.
Right?
Instead, on the 19th of January, the Proclamation would be issued by the MPs of Sinn Féin, declaring their intent for the formation of a permanent independent republic composed of all provinces of the island, with no room made for compromise on a supposed Home Rule Act in the making. On the same day, members of Sinn Féin's paramilitary wing, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), would execute a handful of officers from the Royal Ireland Constabulary, making clear that they did not intend to back down from a fight with the London government.
Cries of bloody murder would come quickly from the Conservative-dominated government, with some such as the esteemed Liberal MP of Dundee calling for an immediate and violent deployment of the British Army into Ireland to deal with the growing rebellion, crushing it as they had done with the Glasgow Strike in remarkably swift fashion.
However, other more calmer voices such as Deputy PM Bonar Law would call for a more stringent intervention against the Irish Republicans, pointing out rightfully that the government could less afford further costs to it's already meagre budgets. He would draft a proposal for the reliance on fewer British Army troops on the island, the burden of suppression to be placed on the Royal Irish Constabulary instead, where their familiarity with the local situation would suit them better for the stomping out of republicanist ideals.
Looking at his options, Prime Minister Lloyd George would choose to...
[] Send in the Army.
Ireland is an indelible part of the British Empire, the rebellion must be crushed swiftly.
+ Liberal Party (Lloyd George) Opinion
- Conservative Party OpinionWith the sweeping victory of the Sinn Féin party (literally, We Ourselves) against the predominant tide of Irish Unionist candidates on the island itself, many had expected them to push for the finalization of the Home Rule Act, thus granting them their own Parliament from which they could agitate further for eventual Dominionship or some other such agreement within the Empire. It was hoped that their more radical members were not composed of the majority of the party, and that they would moderate their positions once in power, for surely they would not risk war with the largest Empire on Earth.
Right?
Instead, on the 19th of January, the Proclamation would be issued by the MPs of Sinn Féin, declaring their intent for the formation of a permanent independent republic composed of all provinces of the island, with no room made for compromise on a supposed Home Rule Act in the making. On the same day, members of Sinn Féin's paramilitary wing, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), would execute a handful of officers from the Royal Ireland Constabulary, making clear that they did not intend to back down from a fight with the London government.
Cries of bloody murder would come quickly from the Conservative-dominated government, with some such as the esteemed Liberal MP of Dundee calling for an immediate and violent deployment of the British Army into Ireland to deal with the growing rebellion, crushing it as they had done with the Glasgow Strike in remarkably swift fashion.
However, other more calmer voices such as Deputy PM Bonar Law would call for a more stringent intervention against the Irish Republicans, pointing out rightfully that the government could less afford further costs to it's already meagre budgets. He would draft a proposal for the reliance on fewer British Army troops on the island, the burden of suppression to be placed on the Royal Irish Constabulary instead, where their familiarity with the local situation would suit them better for the stomping out of republicanist ideals.
Looking at his options, Prime Minister Lloyd George would choose to...
[] Send in the Army.
Ireland is an indelible part of the British Empire, the rebellion must be crushed swiftly.
+ Liberal Party (Lloyd George) Opinion
-- Government Budget
[] Rely on Local Forces.
Bonar makes a good point...
+ Conservative Party Opinion
+ Liberal Party (Lloyd George) Opinion
- Government Budget
Current Situation:
Conservative Party (Bonar Law)
Strength in Parliament: Overwhelming
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion +++, Dependent on Choices)
The Lesser Partner (Opinion -)
Liberal Party (Lloyd George/Current PC)
Strength in Parliament: Sizeable
Wartime PM (Opinion ++++, Decaying)
The Old Man of Government (Opinion ++)
Successfully Dealt with the Glasgow Strike (Opinion +)
The Liberal Splitter (Opinion -)
Liberal Party (Asquith)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Traitor and Deceiver (Opinion ----)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion ++, Dependent on Choices)
Labour Party (William Adamson)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Wartime PM (Opinion ++, Decaying)
Conservative Puppet (Opinion --)
King of England (George V)
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Mandate of the People (Opinion ++)
Governing it Right (Opinion +)
The Irish Ulcer (Opinion -)
Strength in Parliament: Overwhelming
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion +++, Dependent on Choices)
The Lesser Partner (Opinion -)
Liberal Party (Lloyd George/Current PC)
Strength in Parliament: Sizeable
Wartime PM (Opinion ++++, Decaying)
The Old Man of Government (Opinion ++)
Successfully Dealt with the Glasgow Strike (Opinion +)
The Liberal Splitter (Opinion -)
Liberal Party (Asquith)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Traitor and Deceiver (Opinion ----)
Fears of a Red Revolution (Opinion ++, Dependent on Choices)
Labour Party (William Adamson)
Strength in Parliament: Miniscule
Wartime PM (Opinion ++, Decaying)
Conservative Puppet (Opinion --)
King of England (George V)
Wartime PM (Opinion +++, Decaying)
Mandate of the People (Opinion ++)
Governing it Right (Opinion +)
The Irish Ulcer (Opinion -)
Unemployment: Slowly Rising
Labor Unrest: Declining (Assumed)
Labor Radicalization: Steady (Assumed)
Government Budget: Worryingly Low
A/N: Another vote comes hither!
Last edited:
Voting Closed.
nachtingale
20. On that "honk, mimimi" type beat everyday.
- Location
- Malaysia
- Pronouns
- He/They
Seems like one of the options are in the lead.