News Centre

[Killtron]

This is were new updates will be placed, feel free to comment on them.

[Killtron]

[align=center][SIZE=14]Foreign Office Press Release[/SIZE][/align][align=right]25th May 2007[/align][/b]
General Election produces new Government[/SIZE]


On the 18th May 2007, the General Election for the fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland were held. After two weeks of intense campaigning and a competitive election, the following candidates were elected MPs to sit in the House of Commons for the next term:

British Allies
donchatryit
Fenchurch
Klopstock
Lethen
Natethegreat
North East Somerset
Posul
Riddim
The DART
Windsor-Bainbridge

It must be noted that this was the first election to be held since the enactment of the amendments in the electoral system regarding the issue of ties occurring between candidates.

On the announcement of the results, the House of Commons assembled to proceed with the election of the new Prime Minister. After a fruitful debate, His Majesty the King, --Great Britain--, in the customary State Opening of the Parliament, marked the commencement of this session of the Parliament and appointed the House's preferred candidate, the Rt Hon Windsor-Bainbridge OBE MP, as the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland.

The new Prime Minister announced the following Cabinet,

Prime Minister: Windsor-Bainbridge
Home Secretary: Fenchurch
Foreign Secretary: r3naissanc3r
First Sea Lord: North East Somerset
Minister of Community: Riddim

This is the first time a member of the House of Lords is appointed to the Cabinet, since the Lords in Cabinet Act 2006, in May 2006, allowed such appointments.

Great Britain and Ireland is looking forward to a productive and prosperous term. A more extended coverage of the General Election will be included in the forthcoming Foreign Dispatch.


A production of the Foreign Office of Great Britain and Ireland.[/SIZE]

[Killtron]

Foreign Dispatch - http://z6.invisionfree.com/Great_Britain_Region/index.php?showtopic=6793

[Eluvatar]

Thanks

[Killtron]

[align=center][SIZE=14]Foreign Office Press Release[/SIZE][/align][align=right]21st June 2007[/align][/b]
Motion of no confidence brought[/SIZE]


On the 19th June 2007, the Honourable Sir Posul KG MP brought a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

Explaining the reasons that lead him to such an action, Posul accused the Government of being inactive, lacking vision and failing to provide a direction for the region. In his statement, he mentioned in particular that the region, in the last weeks, has seen "a Government which is dead in the water".

Τhe motion, when originally submitted, had tenuous support. The Right Honourable Fenchurch CBE MP, the Honourable British Allies MBE MP, the Honourable Lethen MBE MP and the the Honourable NatetheGreat MP decided to abstain until the Prime Minister addressed the issue in the House, while the Honourable Sir Klopstock KBE MP opposed the motion, stating that he could not "lay the blame for the region's inactivity on the Government alone". The Honourable Donchatryit MP decided to resign from his MP seat, when the motion was brought, citing as reason the fact that his personal lack of activity in the region did not entitle him to judge the Government on the same issue.

However, two days after the motion was brought, the Right Honourable Windsor-Bainbridge CBE MP, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland, had yet to make a statement in the House. Observing this, many MPs, namely Klopstock, Lethen and NatetheGreat, changed sides and decided to uphold the motion. The motion was also supported by the Right Honourable Sir North East Somerset KG MP, who also suggested that, should the motion be passed by the House, Posul should be appointed as the new Prime Minister, a suggestion, though, towards which Klopstock expressed his objections.

Several other members of the region have expressed their support for the motion, through the Public Gallery. Namely, the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester Olde Delaware, the Right Honourable the Earl of Enfield Killtron and the Right Honourable the Viscount of Liverpool The Venerable Vendetta.

The motion had not been submitted for a vote, at the time this report was written. It must be noted that, if the motion is passed by the House of Commons, then the Prime Minister and his Cabinet will be removed, and a new MP will be appointed as the Prime Minister by the King, without new elections being held.


Investiture held in Buckingham Palace[/SIZE]


On the 18th June 2007, His Majesty the King --Great Britain--, in an investiture held in Buckingham Palace, bestowed titles and honours to members of Great Britain and Ireland whose service to the region had been deemed exemplary.

King John of Gililand, already Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford, was raised to Marquess of Winchester, for his continuing contributions from the House of Lord. King John of Gililand is the first ever Marquess to be created, since this title was only introduced in legislation on the 18th May 2007.

Killtron, long standing member of the region, was created by the King Earl of Enfield, for his services to the military and the Empire. He was also raised to the Knighthood as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The Venerable Vendetta, former Home Secretary, Colonial Secretary and Minister of Defence, was also ennobled, being made the Viscount of Liverpool. As a consequence of receiving a title, Lords Killtron and Venerable Vendetta have now become members of the House of Lords.

Several honours were also awarded to Commoners: Windsor Bainbridge, currently Prime Minister, for his services during last term as Minister of Community and, in the past, in several other Cabinet positions; Fenchurch, currently Minister of Community, for her exceptional services in the Immigration Office and in various Ministries; and Riddim, currently Home Secretary, for serving as the most successful UN Delegate of Great Britain and Ireland. All of them were made Commanders of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Last but not least, British Allies was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for his services to Parliament and region.

Awards are bestowed by the Monarch on the nomination of the Cabinet. A majority of the Cabinet needs to vote in favour of a nomination, in order it to be approved.


A production of the Foreign Office of Great Britain and Ireland.[/SIZE]

[Killtron]

[align=center][SIZE=14]Foreign Office Press Release[/SIZE][/align][align=right]8 July 2007[/align][/b]
[align=center][SIZE=14]Fenchurch Ministry Formed[/SIZE]


Fenchurch arrives at 10 Downing Street following her appointment as Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland[/align]

Following the conclusion of the most recent General Election on 30 June, the House of Commons unanimously nominated the Rt. Honourable Fenchurch as having their support for her to be appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland. Following a delay of some significance between the conclusion of the House of Common's process, His Majesty --Great Britain-- officially appointed Fenchurch as Prime Minister on 7 July 2007. Fenchurch becomes the first female prime minister of Great Britain and Ireland, and wasted no time by appointing her cabinet only hours after kissing hands with the Monarch. The new cabinet of Great Britain and Ireland, after weeks of going without one, is as follows:

Prime Minister- Fenchurch
Deputy Prime Minister & First Sea Lord- North East Somerset
Home Secretary- Olde Delaware
Foreign Secretary- Klopstock
Minister of Community- Donchatryit

The Fenchurch Government sees the return of both Olde Delaware and Klopstock to cabinet after sustained absences, with Olde Delaware having spent a good part of a year in the House of Lords. It also sees the continuation of the long serving veteran North East Somerset as Deputy Prime Minister, and the entrance of relative GB&I newcomer Donchatryit to the executive. The new government faces an enormous and critical task of rejuvenating a region which has been increasingly ill and inactive over the past many months and especially so over the last one and a half.


[align=center][SIZE=14]New Parliament Brings New People to Power[/SIZE]



MPs crowd into the chamber to see and witness the new government on the front benches.[/align]

The 14th General Election of Great Britain and Ireland was an eventful process which saw many new faces stand and significant competition for the 11 seats which make up the Great British and Irish House of Commons. Overall, 14 candidates stood for the Commons, and due to a recent change in the electoral system, a tie for the eleventh seat left it vacant, resulting a a House of 10 Members of Parliament, with a by-election called by the newly appointed Prime Minister Fenchurch. The results for the 30 June 2007 General Election were as follows:

Fenchurch (Independent) [ 19 ] [13.10%]
Klopstock (Independent) [ 10 ] [6.90%]
West Antioch (Freedom Party) [ 10 ] [6.90%]
Engul (Independent) [ 8 ] [5.52%]
Lethen (Independent) [ 9 ] [6.21%]
Riddim (Independent) [ 9 ] [6.21%]
Natethegreat (Independent) [ 5 ] [3.45%]
Gililand (Independent) [ 8 ] [5.52%]
North East Somerset (Independent) [ 19 ] [13.10%]
Olde Delaware (Independent) [ 13 ] [8.97%]
Lucius Magnus Rex (Independent) [ 5 ] [3.45%]
British Allies (Independent) [ 9 ] [6.21%]
The DART (Independent) [ 9 ] [6.21%]
Donchatryit (Independent) [ 12 ] [8.28%]

With the following candidates being elected to office:

Fenchurch
Klopstock
West Antioch
Lethen
Riddim
North East Somerset
Olde Delaware
British Allies
The DART
Donchatryit

The by-election for the eleventh and final seat in the House of Commons is scheduled to conclude on 16 July 2007, with nominations being closed on the 12th. The Citizens of Great Britain and Ireland look forward to a spirited and competive contest!

A production of the Foreign Office of Great Britain and Ireland. [/SIZE]

[Killtron]

[align=center][SIZE=14]Foreign Office Press Release[/SIZE][/align][align=right]20 July 2007[/align][/b]
Parliament in plenum[/SIZE]

The Rt. Honourable Fenchurch, immediately after being appointed as the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland, called a by-election for the eleventh available seat in the House of Commons to be held. That seat was left vacant, according to electoral law, after a tie for it occurred in the recent General Election.

Four citizens stood as candidates. The polls were opened on the 12th and, when they were closed on the 16th July 2007, the results were as follows:

Engul [ 9 ] [33.33%]
NatetheGreat [ 2 ] [7.41%]
Lucius Magnus Rex [ 2 ] [7.41%]
Gililand [ 14 ] [51.85%]

The Honourable Gililand was elected in Parliament. Gililand had also stood in the General Election, after having abdicated his title as Marquess of Winchester to be eligible for candidacy, and was one of the tied candidates for the eleventh seat.


Government in full-shape[/SIZE]

On the 17th of July 2007, and following the results of the aforementioned by-election, Prime Minister Fenchurch announced a reshuffle of her Cabinet.

The newly elected MP Gililand was appointed First Sea Lord, replacing the Rt. Honourable North East Somerset in that position. Gililand had served in the past as Chief of the Imperial General Staff and has been for long a senior officer in both the Armed Forces of Great Britain and Ireland and the Royal Navy (that replaced the former after the passage of the Admiralty Act 2007).

North East Somerset retained his other position in the Cabinet, as Deputy Prime Minister, while the rest of the Ministers remained unchanged. The Cabinet, after the reshuffle, is as follows:

Prime Minister - Fenchurch
Deputy Prime Minister - North East Somerset
Foreign Secretary - Klopstock
Home Secretary - Olde Delaware
First Sea Lord - Gililand
Minister of Community - Donchatryit

Ministers have also made appointments to the various Junior Ministerial positions in their Departments. The full Executive of Great Britain and Ireland is as follows:

Director of Immigration - Lethen
Attorney General - Zeon-x
Head of the Diplomatic Service - r3naissanc3r
Director in ACCEL - North East Somerset
Lord Mayor of the City of London - Windsor-Bainbridge
Director of Naturalisation - Engul
Culture Councillor - Loyal British Columbia
UN Delegate - Riddim
UN Affairs Director - Engul

Other governmental non-executive positions have been filled, as well. A motion to appoint the Rt. Honourable Baron Trividium as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in the Appeals Division was passed by the House of Lords, on the 7th July 2007. The Rt. Honourable the Viscount of Liverpool The Venerable Vendetta was elected, on the 16th July 2007, as the Chairman of the Citizen's Panel, after an uncontested election. Finally, after being nominated by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable the Earl of Enfield Killtron was elected by the House of Commons as Lord Chief Justice of the High Court.


A production of the Foreign Office of Great Britain and Ireland. [/SIZE]

[Eluvatar]

Thanks for the update

[Killtron]

Foreign Office Press Release for 8 August 2007

Come One! Come All! To the Great Britain and Ireland Festival!!

Greetings to our friends and Allies around NationStates!

This little note is to formally invite you to the first Festival of Great Britain and Ireland.

During this week, GB&I will be celebrating over 2 years of existance, the esteemed history of the region and the creativity of her many members---and we'd like you to be there!

During the festival, you'll be able to participate in our many games and competitions such as poetry slams, creative writing competition, Telegram writing competition and special roleplay games run by our own RP master Zeon-X.

This is also a fantastic chance for you to get to know many members of our region and also to see the different and dynamic members of our region in action.

This is sure to be a fun time for all and an occasion not to be missed! The Festival will begin on Friday the 10th of August and the festivities will last until Monday the 19th You can reach the  GB&I Forums by clicking right here.

A production of the Foreign Office of Great Britain and Ireland.

[Killtron]

Foreign Office Press Release
28 August 2007

New Treaty Redefines Congress of Sovereigns Alliance[/u]

As part of the recent festival in Great Britain and Ireland and as a continuation of talks which occured on the forums of The New Inquisition back in June, delegates from the Congress of Sovereigns signatory governments have been meeting on GB&I's forums for the past week and a half. While little was asked or told about the nature of the proceedings outside of the delegation room and among high ranking government officials, the end results of those talks have recently been unveiled. After prolonged negotiations, the Congress of Sovereigns have agreed to a new treaty, the Treaty of Sovereigns, which outlines a broader, more integrated, and more institutionalised alliance structure.

The proposed treaty includes the establishment of a sitting Congress to govern the alliance, one with representatives from all of the signatories and a speaker to preside over the body. It also calls for the establishment of an allied military command and sharted intelligence information and networking, as well as for the pooling of diplomatic efforts by signatories into Congress level efforts as needed. At the same time as creating mechanisms for allied cooperation however, the treaty preserves the sovereignty of signatory members by their maintaing control over their military security and with participation under joint commands optional. Additionally, representatives will be appointed and chosen in whatever manner so determined by each Signatory, allowing for governments to choose the authority and nature of their representatives to the Congress.

The treaty was agreed to on 25 August and, following parliamentary approval in The Land of Kings and Emperors, completed signing on 28 August 2007. It now goes before the Great British and Irish parliament for ratification and implementation. The forum of the Congress of Sovereigns can be found here.

A production of the Foreign Office of Great Britain and Ireland.

[Killtron]

[align=center][SIZE=14]Foreign Office Press Release[/SIZE][/align][align=right]17th October, 2007[/align][/b]

[SIZE=9]The Foreign Dispatch[/SIZE]

Special Announcement

His Royal Highness, King George III died peacefully on October 16th, 2007.  His service to this great region was most appreciated.  He has been King since the very beginnings of this region's history and his reign has been marked by the unprecendented growth of this region from a small and quiet home to young politicians to its current state where people from all walks of life find refuge under its outspread arms.  Preparations are being made for the accession to the throne by the recently crowned Prince of Wales, previously known as North East Somerset, who shall take the regnal name of --Great Britain-- II on his accession.  A bill of accession is currently before the Privy Council.

The Funeral for our great monarch shall be on the 21st Octover and all those among our foreign friends and allies are invited to visit to pay our respects.  A book of condolences has also been opened in Westminster Abbey.

The following regional news was written before the death of the King and follows events from before the previous election, one month ago.

Regional News

King Appoints, then Withdraws His Choice of Regent

Faced with issues which would mean an extended leave of absence, -Great Britain-, King of Great Britain and Ireland, first appointed, then withdrew Posul as regent, after vociferous protests from both senior and junior regional figures.  At one point the entire Foreign Office senior staff resigned in protest at the appointment.  The Military was also affected, with a senior figure there also tendoring his resignation, only to withdraw it when the King announced that he had changed his mind.

Election Leads to Second Fenchurch Term, and Confusion

After one of the most vocal battles for the Prime Ministership in recent times, the House of Commons, which included all but one of those who offered themselves for election, voted unanimously to retain Fenchurch as Prime Minister.  However, given the King's absence, and the lack of an active regent, her term could not really begin in earnest until one month after the election results were announced.  Thus, her second consecutive term began without the ability to appoint new cabinet members and opened during one of the most controversial periods of Great British and Irish history.

The Return of the King

The King soon returned to the region, opening parliament within a few days of first being seen again on the forums.  His opening speech reflected the challenges that this new administration will face in this rump term.  He also officially appointed Fenchurch to the role of Prime Minister.

North East Somerset Named Prince of Wales

The discussions over the regency were ended categorically by the Monarch as he appointed the honourable North East Somerset to the role of Prince of Wales, thereby making him the heir to the throne.  This will insure continuity between Monarch and the next and should avoid the acrimony caused by the previous difficulties.

This decision to appoint North East Somerset was called "well deserved" by a relieved, yet tired looking Prime Minister.

PM Announces New Cabinet

In the first act of her second term, Prime Minister Fenchurch has appointed a new Cabinet as follows:

Home Secretary: Engul
Minister of Community: Sir Dingle Foot
Foreign Minister: Donchatryit
First Sea Lord: Gililand

She noted in her speech that all those in the Cabinet had huge tasks ahead of them.  She continued" this term must have a major focus on reforms internally. I feel that we must focus on what is necessary for our immediate survival. In the next few days you shall all be seeing much of this work being put into place."
This announcement was followed, in great British tradition, by an argument over the past and a discussion on child rearing.

[kor]

Thanks for the Update!

[Killtron]

Notification from the Foreign Office
Re: The Embassy of Taijitu in Great Britain and Ireland

We would like to inform you that your Embassy in Great Britain and Ireland has remained inactive for a period exceeding three months. It is standard policy that, in such cases, a notification be sent to the respective region, in order its official authorities to undertake all appropriate actions to resolve the situation.

Please note that, should your Embassy remain inactive for two more weeks, then it is subject to be closed, without further notice. In such a case, you are welcome to apply for a new Embassy, if you wish to continue relations with Great Britain and Ireland.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours,
The Right Honourable Fenchurch CBE,
Foreign Minister of Great Britain and Ireland.

[Killtron]

[SIZE=14]The Foreign Dispatch from Great Britain and Ireland[/SIZE]



January 2008
16th January 2008


Greetings to all the nations, regions, and readers of the world from the desks of the Foreign Office of His Majesty --Great Britain-- II, King of Great Britain and Ireland and all her Dominions and Colonies. The Foreign Dispatch is written by HM King and Fenchurch, the previous Foreign Secretary, with the assistance of His Majesty's Government, Members of Parliament, distinguished ambassadors and guests, and loyal British Citizens. Please enjoy!


Election Leaves Candidates Hanging


Elections of Members of Parliament[/b]

In what was one of the most interesting elections in the history of Great Britain and Ireland, 12 citizens chose to put their names on the ballot papers to serve the region in the House of Commons. The elections saw new members and some older faces returning to politics running for parliament alongside then current politicians.

While the House of Commons has 11 members, and thus it could work out that only 1 candidate might have missed out, legislation brought into effect earlier this year saw the region electing only 8 members to the House of Commons, with 4 rejected after tying in last place.

In previous cases where there have been ties like this, the law provided for all members who were tied to be elected to the House of Commons as long as the number of MP's did not exceed 13. However during 2007 this was amended to instead state that a by-election must be called after the general election to decide the tied seats. Up until now this legislation had not had a significant effect on the results. Indeed, up until the final minutes of the General Election it was thought that only a by-election would be held for the 11th seat, however a few late voters stopped 4 members from gaining a seat in the last 5 minutes of voting!

Last minute votes changed the situation entirely!

The results of the 17th November 2007 General election were as follows:

Fenchurch (Independent) [ 14 ] [9.33%]
donchatryit (Independent) [ 11 ] [7.33%]
Klopstock (Independent) [ 15 ] [10.00%]
Royal Aston (Independent) [ 12 ] [8.00%]
Sir Dingle Foot (Independent) [ 11 ] [7.33%]
Engul (Independent) [ 12 ] [8.00%]
West Antioch (Fascist Party) [ 11 ] [7.33%]
Lethen (Independent) [ 12 ] [8.00%]
King John of Gililand (Independent) [ 17 ] [11.33%]
NatetheGreat (Democratic-Republican) [ 12 ] [8.00%]
The Kingdom of Paquerettes (Independent) [ 12 ] [8.00%]
Janrober (Independent) [ 11 ] [7.33%]

The following were immediately elected to Parliament:

Engul (Independent)
Fenchurch (Independent)
King John of Gililand (Independent)
Klopstock (Independent)
Lethen (Independent)
NatetheGreat (Democratic-Republican)
Royal Aston (Independent)
The Kingdom of Paquerettes (Independent)

Acting as the Interim Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Fenchurch called a by-election for the remaining 3 seats to be held on the 27th of November.

Before this by-election could be held however, another twist in this little election drama occurred. Royal Aston, a very new citizen to the region at the time, had gained a seat in the House of Commons in the general elections, which was brilliant work for a new member of the region, not just to win a seat, but to gain the support which he had from the voters. However citing unfair treatment by other members, Royal Aston resigned his seat as a member of parliament and almost left the region. Afterwards he admitted that what he did was a mistake and signed up for the by-election, but withdrew his candidacy during the voting period.

Due to his resignation yet another seat in the House of Commons was left vacant. At the time, it was assumed that the number of seats could just be raised in the polls, however the by-election was called for just three seats, and the raising the number of seats after calling the election. Candidates then signed up to a lawful by-election which took place on the 5th of December with the following results:

Flake (Independent) [ 13 ] [13.54%]
English Sympathizers (Independent) [ 11 ] [11.46%]
Janrober (Independent) [ 22 ] [22.92%]
Falconio (Independent) [ 10 ] [10.42%]
micktrim (Independent) [ 5 ] [5.21%]
Sir Dingle Foot (Independent) [ 19 ] [19.79%]
Donchatryit (Independent) [ 16 ] [16.67%]

The following were elected to Parliament:

Janrober (Independent)
Sir Dingle Foot (Independent)
Donchatryit (Independent)
Flake (Independent)


Positions in the House of Commons were well contested

Election of the Prime Minister[/i]

The Prime Ministerial contest was just as interesting both in the heated debate and in the overall outcome. This time there were two candidates who put their hand up for the top job. Both represented very different policies and opinions. Their manifesto threads received a great deal of attention and right up until the results of the general election were announced it was very difficult to tell which one of them would win. King John of Gililand had tried twice before to gain the position, but failed at both occasions against Fenchurch.

King John of Gililand placed heavy emphasis on strengthening diplomatic ties with other regions, and training and using the military more often, whilst Donchatryit campaigned with a policy of peaceful expansion, community focus and recruitment.

Both candidates also had a good deal of experience in the game of Nationstates. Gililand had been a citizen of GB&I since the early days and had held many a position including Home Secretary, Lord Chief Justice and First Sea Lord, while Donchatryit had previously been the Secretary General for the ACCEL, Minister of Community and Foreign minister of GB&I.

Both candidates were also able to attract support for their bids, with many prominent MP's, Lords and citizens offering support to their preferred candidate. Amongst the supporters for Donchatryit were Windsor-Bainbridge (the Earl of Durham and a former Prime Minister), Klopstock (a former Prime Minister) and Sir Dingle Foot (a former Minister of Community). King John of Gililand meanwhile garnered notable support from R3naissanc3r (the Duke of Cornwall and a former Prime Minister), Fenchurch (the outgoing Prime Minister) and Lethen (a former Foreign and Defence Secretary) gave their support to King John of Gililand.

However as was stated earlier, Donchatryit failed to gain a seat in the General election and like Gililand's bid for Prime Ministership two terms ago this prevented him from being able to run for the regions top position.


The Great British and Irish Government



The State Opening of Parliament

After the House recommended to the appointment of King John of Gililand as Prime Minister to the King, the State Opening of Parliament was completed by His Majesty the King, on the 26th November 2007. His speech can be viewed here.

The Prime Minister then announced the Cabinet:

"Deputy Prime Minister: Lethen: His experience and commitment to the region will serve us well in my stead, if need be. Also, I'll be announcing some new
initiatives soon for which he'll be responsible, as DPM.

Foreign Secretary: Fenchurch.: Her experience here and her contacts abroad make her the perfect choice for this position.

Home Secretary: NatetheGreat: His vigor and enthusiasm will bring new ideas to the table, especially in the areas of immigration, naturalisation and recruitment.
I expect great things of Nate.

First Sea Lord: --Great Britain II--: His extensive experience in the military, his tremendous esteem here in GB&I and his understanding of the means in
which the Royal Navy can benefit the region are just a few of the reasons why he is the perfect choice to lead our forces.

Minister of Community: Engul: A thoroughly proven Cabinet minister with a very bright future, he has decide to spread his wings and I believe this will be a prime place to do it, both for himself and the region."

The appointment of HM King as First Sea Lord met with mixed opinion in the region. Many feel that his majesty should not be able to take on a government role while he serves as Monarch, while others do not feel that the position does the region any harm and that his Majesty is the best man for the job.

Nevertheless in a mid-term Cabinet reshuffle a replacement First Sea Lord was appointed in the form of the Earl of Westminster, Stony Stratford, a player with great experience as Chief of the Imperial General Staff of the Great Britain and Irish military for several months in 2005. The Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister were also swapped, with Fenchurch additionally being appointed Leader of the House of Commons. In a further reshuffle near the end of the term, caused by the resignation of Lethen, Sir Dingle Foot was appointed the third Foreign Secretary within a single term on the 14th January 2008..


New Alliance Forged


On November 6th, 2007 the then Prime Minister Fenchurch and the foreign affairs advocate of Gatesville, Emperor Lexus signed an important treaty.

Gatesville is well known for being one of the largest player created regions in the game, and also one of the oldest. With brilliant military and intelligence capabilities which are envied throughout Nationstates, it was an honour to sign an alliance with them. After a  trouble-free period of negotiation, the two parties, consisting of Emperor Lexus and Gates from Gatesville, and Fenchurch and Donchatryit (then Foreign Secretary) for Great Britain and Ireland, emerged with the document which is now known as the Treaty of Oxford.

This treaty is a basic military and intelligence sharing alliance similar to the treaty of Cambridge which was signed by GB&I and Catlandatopia. However the signing of this document means that GB&I is now allied to yet another great power in the Nationstates world. With other allies such as The Pacific, Catlandatopia and the members of the Congress of Sovereigns, it can definitely be said that Great Britain and Ireland continues to maintain close diplomatic ties with some of the most powerful and respected regions in the game.

The Treaty can be viewed here.


Foreign Office Developments



The Foreign Office

In this current term, the Foreign Office has undergone some restructuring in terms of ambassadors, in order to relieve some of the burden from overworked members of staff and also to assess the regions that we currently have embassies in, ensuring that they are all still alive and active.

The current Foreign Secretary, who was earlier this term the Head of Diplomatic Service, Sir Dingle Foot, has wasted no time in producing a new ambassador roster which redistributed the workload a little more evenly and he will continue his efforts to reorganise the roster in his new role as Foreign Secretary.

The Foreign Office has also welcomed back Windsor-Bainbridge to his old office of ACCEL Director. W-B will be replacing the inactive Olde Delaware in order to provide an active GB&I presence in the final days of the centralised ACCEL alliance. W-B is this regions longest serving ACCEL Director, and is one of the authors of the final non-aggression pact which is hoped will continue to harbour the spirit of the current ACCEL agreement without the centralised alliance system. Among the important points are military and intelligence sharing and a commitment to promoting the values of capitalism to the NS world.

To view the current treaty of ACCEL, see here.

To view the proposed non-aggression pact between the members of the current alliance see here.

The Foreign Minister had also appointed a Commonwealth Commissioner in the form of Donchatryit, however just days after he was appointed he resigned saying that he did not believe that he and the FS could work profitably together. The Founder of the Commonwealth Club emailed members of the region to declare his departure from Nationstates during early January 2008, and although he is still officially a Member of Parliament, he has not posted on the forums since then.


"New Year" Honours


On January 12th 2008 the King announced a comparatively short list of Honours, although after the granting of four Dukedoms amongst other peerages and honours in October, by the Late King –Great Britain—I, this is to be expected.

"Dear Citizens of Great Britain and Ireland,

Cabinet has unanimously authorised me, as King of GB&I, to award honours to those whose service to Great Britain and Ireland has been deemed exemplary. In some cases they are widely apart in terms of political views, and some of them have been aware of their appointments for some time, but now we officially honour them publicly before the entire region. They are:

For long-standing service and membership of the region, and considerable contribution to the government and military of GB&I over the past two and a half years, Olde Delaware is hereby made the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery . This peerage is given to Olde Delaware as thanks for the service and time he has given to GB&I.

For excellent service in the political aspect of Great Britain & Ireland, as well as being a long-standing member of the community, Riddim is hereby made Viscountess of Carlisle. Riddim has served in government notably as Home Secretary, but she will also be known as the longest and most successful UN Delegate of Great Britain and Ireland.

As a further vote of thanks, Olde Delaware is hereby made a Knight of [the Order of] the British Empire. He returned to the government office after serving for a long time in the House of Lords, and although eventually defeated by a lack of time his commitment and efforts did not go unnoticed.

Ever yours,

--Great Britain—II,
King of Great Britain and Ireland."


The Arms of the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery


The GB&I Peoples Awards


During this time the people of Great Britain and Ireland were also voting for the 8th volume of the Peoples Awards. While the original idea came from former Prime Minister Westmorlandia, the bulk of the work has been done by the Duke of Cornwall, R3naissanc3r. Collecting and counting the ballots is a lot of work and very time consuming and sadly the Duke announced while giving the results that he would not be able to produce another volume of the awards until Easter next year at the earliest. However MP's Klopstock and the Kingdom of Paquerettes have offered to step in and take charge of this fantastic event which has become an important part of regional traditions in the region.

In this volume there were several more categories to vote for. The full results, and some very entertaining commentary can be found here.


Other Regional News


The forums are past the 160,000 post mark after several months of reasonable activity levels. The regional population stands at around 160 currently, down from 190 at the start of the current term. The region recently celebrated its 3rd anniversary of the foundation of the forums on the 24th December 2007.

The establishment of the Citizens Panel as a venue for formal debate to create regional policy on non-Nationstates issues proved successful, and a new Constitution is now being produced to expand the Panel's oversight into scrutiny of legislation and holding Ministers to account, giving ordinary citizens a chance to have their voice heard.

In the High Courts, the Lord Chief Justice, Killtron; the Earl of Enfield, found Momochine guilty of unacceptable public behaviour and Falconio guilty of holding multiple citizenship accounts. Both were issued cautions, and no appeals were made against the verdicts.

The following Britons have recently became Citizens:

Ad Nihilo
Woolcott
Renshin
Flake
Falconio
Janrober
Micktrim
The Kingdom of Paquerettes



The following regions or organisations have recently had embassies opened in GB&I:

Nova Imperium
New Liberalia
Nova Atlantica (reopened)
Hampshire
Europeia
The Youngworld
Land of Dragonia
La Mafia
Wexford



Riddim continues as UN Delegate for the region, having served for nearly 500 days, and the results of voting can be viewed here.


Latest News

On the 14th January, Prime Minister King John of Gililand called a General Election for the 26th of the same month. The citizens of Great Britain and Ireland can submit their candidacies for the House of Commons until the 22nd January, when the poll will be opened.


The future of GB&I remains bright. 

Goodbye from the Foreign Dispatch Team for now. The Foreign Dispatch is no longer a regular publication, but you should continue to receive Foreign Office Press Releases at regular intervals.

God Save the King!

[PoD Gunner]

Oh my, that is a huge update if I ever saw one! My congratulations and many thanks for keeping us informed.
Also, as the new MoEA of Taijitu, I wanted to drop in and remind you that if you need anything in here, I am just a PM away.