Tory Party Leadership Convention, Castriam southeast PrydainiaDaniel Auburn took the podium as the convention room erupted in applause. He'd just been elected the new leader of the Tory Party following the resignation of Alexander Chatham. His election was, in many ways, a foregone conclusion. His only notable challenger had been Chatham's long time lieutenant Andrew Xavier. Even he was running more as a token opposition candidate then as a true challenger to the young up and coming politician from Kernow. He was from a minor aristocratic family, but that seemed like a breath of fresh air compared to the older Tory leaders, all from the most prestigious of noble houses.
His youth, energy, and charisma had catapulted him to the head of a party that had, for the longest time, stood for none of those things.
"The Syndicalists currently sit at His Majesty's loyal opposition. Jeremy Gill and his Union backers stand up on their soapboxes to tell anyone who will listen that they're 'keeping an eye' on Stephen Crofts. That they're reigning in the Social Commonwealth majority. That they represent the people of this country who haven't been taking in by the cries of 'Victory that, Victory this.'
Well I'll as you. Do the Syndicalists the NMU represent you?"
The crowd erupted in a loud "NO!"
"No they don't! And I suspect that holds for the majority of people who aren't blacklisted into voting for them either. Mr. Gill, you aren't the answer to Stephen Crofts. You're not the cure for Social Commonwealthism. You're the other side of the coin. No, you're part of the problem here. To many Prydainians it might seem like the election of the Social Commonwealth government and the ascension of the Syndicalists to the opposition means this country's becoming more radical. Well I don't believe it. I believe this country is looking for answers, and I bet we're the lot who's willing to give them a sensible alternative to all the yelling, marching, and slogans!"
Mr. Gill, your party may control His Majesty's Loyal Opposition but we, the Tories, are His Majesty's Sensible Opposition. Whether it's your radical leftist rabble or Crofts' militaristic irresponsible populism run amok we will stand in opposition, and we will take back this country in five years for every Prydainian with a good head on his or her shoulders!"
The crowd erupted once more. For the first time in a long time the Tory Party seemed like it could capture the hearts and minds of Prydainian voters.