[Forum Game] A New Jerusalem

[Ab Ovo]

A New Jerusalem
Trials and tribulations in the Imperial Federation

Introduction
​

Welcome to A New Jerusalem, a forum game by yours truly. A nation game in the style of one of my more successful games, Empire of Harmony, A New Jerusalem is set in 1990; in a world where the British Empire never fell but rather reformed into an Imperial Federation after the Second World War. Composed of autonomous dominions from India to Canada, the dominions elect representatives to the Imperial Parliament in London; while their own parliaments and first ministers manage affairs at home.

The reign of Elizabeth II, Queen-Empress, has thus far seen an era of relative amity and concord amongst the constituent parts of the Federation. The process of federalisation wasn't perfect however, and pressures on unity remain in the jungles of Africa as radical leftism has inspired jungle rebellion in Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and parts of India. Their own governments struggle to contain them and the deployment of Imperial troops in the dominions under the premiership of Margaret Thatcher has sparked dissent and anger both in Great Britain and abroad; and the ability of the Tories to retain their position seems... precarious.

How It Works
​

I'm Her Majesty the Queen, and you all are politicians. In addition to serving as HMQ, I'll also serve as the Press, foreign nations, etc. Great Britain herself has no Parliament or Prime Minister, but rather share those Imperial institutions; making her roughly similar to England in the present-day United Kingdom. The Prime Minister is nominated by the Imperial Parliament, which is composed of 800 seats in the House of Commons -- 400 to Great Britain, 400 allotted amongst the dominions -- and a hereditary/appointed House of Lords. Each dominion also has it's own parliament and prime/first minister. You may play as a member of any parliament, or as one of the first ministers, or a party leader, etc etc.

You all can pass legislation and will be responding to events that I will regularly post. There will be no 'regular' or annual update, after the manner of Empire of Harmony, just the events. That may change in the future depending on the input of the players, but that remains to be seen.

Rough Sketch of the World
​

The Zhukov years in the late 60s and early 70s resulted in a USSR purged of liberals and revisionists and a revival of hardline Stalinism. This revival has lasted to the 90s, and the USSR remains internally and externally brutal; quashing dissent domestically and in her sphere of influence. Because of this, Germany remains disunited and Afghanistan is a Soviet satellite. The Korean and Vietnamese Wars were bloody affairs as Anglo-American forces battled against Soviet-backed puppets; with Korea ending in a jagged stalemate and Vietnam retaining her monarchy only through a great deal of jungle warfare.

The Middle East remains quiet, mostly, with crowned heads ruling in Iraq, Iran, and Jordan; all backed by American or British bank accounts. Egypt bloodily overthrew her own monarchy and suffers under a fundamentalist Islamic regime, eyeing a united and democratic Israel. After having defeated Egypt in two previous wars the Israelis are confident they can defeat all comers, but they could be proven wrong. India and Pakistan glare angrily at each other over the issue of the Kashmir; but London keeps them from hitting each other over the head. The Falklands remain British, as they always have, as Argentina is too intelligent to go against Imperial might.

The Imperial Government:

Monarch: Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second of the Imperial Federation (Ab Ovo)
Prime Minister: Margaret Thatcher (Maxwell500)
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Norman Lamont (NPC unless someone takes him)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Federal Affairs: Douglas Hurd (Shynka)
Leader of the House of Commons: Sir Geoffrey Howe (NPC unless someone takes him)
Leader of the House of Lords: John Julian Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead (NPC unless someone takes him)

Dominions:

Canada (Unionist government)
Newfoundland (Labour government)
Australia (Unionist government)
South Africa* (National Front government**)
Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Unionist government)
India (Labour government)
Pakistan (Labour government)
Sri Lanka (Labour government)
Fiji (Unionist government)
The Gambia (Labour government)
Ghana (Labour government)
Guyana (Unionist government)
Kenya (Socialist government 1)
Malta (Liberal Democratic government)
Nigeria (Unionist government)
New Zealand (Unionist government)
Uganda (Labour government)
Belize (Unionist government)
Papua New Guinea (People's National Congress government 2)
Jamaica (Unionist government)

and a bunch of little island nations

*bit of an outcast, with all that racial nastiness
**the National Front is the hardliner white supremacist party in SA, and is the local affiliate to the wider Unionists; much to the chagrin of the Unionists themselves at times...
1 -- the Socialist Party of Kenya is the most leftist of the ruling governments in the Federation; and is pointedly unaffiliated with Labour, who they view as too reactionary. Why Kenya even remains is the Federation is, at times, unknown.
2 -- the People's National Congress is the ruling party of New Guinea, and is stridently conservative.

The Political Parties:

Conservative and Unionist Party: Known ITTL as the Unionists rather than the Conservatives, the CUP and it's adherents is one of the largest parties in the Federation. A staunch proponent of John Major's "Vision of Federalism", the Unionist Party is the representative of mainline Toryism, and has sister parties in every single dominion; remaining popular in the "Anglo" dominions of Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Labour Party: Main opposition to the Unionists, Labour promotes a form of democratic socialism and grassroots democracy. Accused by many conservatives of being funded by the USSR, Labour in any case tries to avoid hewing to the ideological extremes of the Left and remains publicly committed to Queen and Country. Influenced ideologically by the legendary heavyweight Clement Attlee, Labour is the party of choice in many of the African and Asian dominions for the party's focus on autonomy and what it calls "true, community federalism".

Liberal Democratic Party: Centrist kingmakers extraordinaire, the LibDems have been part of every single ruling coalition -- Tory or Labour -- since their formation in the Eighties. Espousing "moderation in all things and all courses" according to it's Founding Principles, the LDP cannot be truly said to be ideological so much as pragmatic; avoiding extremes in any direction for the sake of peace. Not very popular in the wider Federation, the only dominion with a Liberal Democratic government is Malta.

Suggested player application:

Name:
Position:
Age:
Bio:

Player list:

Jeremy Corbyn (Labourite IMP) -- Luftwafer
Rahul Sharma (Labourite PM of India) -- TJDS
Benazir Bhutto (Labourite PM of Pakistan) -- Noco19
Neil Kinnock (Labourite Leader of the Imperial Opposition) -- Sealy300
Ian Smith (Unionist PM of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) -- Bonecracker(NL)
Gordon Brown (Labourite IMP) -- Watercress
Alfred Sant (LibDem PM of Malta) -- Korona
Muhammad Sharif (Tory Leader of the Pakistani Opposition) -- XVG
Jean-Robert Bourassa (Liberal Leader of the Canadian Opposition) -- Dadarian
Peter Hitchens (Tory IMP) -- 99KingHigh
David Steel (LibDem IMP and Deputy IPM) -- LatinKaiser
Barak H. Obama Sr (Socialist PM of Kenya) -- Scrapknight
Shehu Shagari (Tory PM of Nigeria) -- Harpsichord
PM of South Africa -- alexander23
Labourite IMP -- naxhi24
Julius Chelanga (Socialist IMP for Kenya) -- Fingon888
Asif Ali Zardari (Labourite IMP for Pakistan) -- Jeeshadow
Bruce Watson (Australian Tory MP) -- Terraferma
Some dude, probably -- DensleyBlair

Updates:

Coldfront channel is #London

 

[Bonecracker(NL)]

(Trust me, Ab, you don't want this specimen in.)

 

[AzagalTheGreat]

((In if allowed. ?))

 

[Ab Ovo]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
We hate thatcher!!!
I will be the free market socialist party leader

can I be alt history Jeremy Corbyn?

Since there is no "Free Market Socialist Party", I daresay that will be rather tough. However, you can feel free to be Jeremy Corbyn.

(Trust me, Ab, you don't want this specimen in.)

Wise advice, Dutch, but in these early days I turn no-one away.

((In if allowed. ?))

Welcome onboard Hatter.

 

[Scrapknight]

In as...well, no clue yet. Maybe a Scottish nationalist, if that's permissible.

I think you have made all gorgan's dreams come true XD

 

[Ab Ovo]

In as...well, no clue yet. Maybe a Scottish nationalist, if that's permissible.

I think you have made all gorgan's dreams come true XD

Scottish nationalism is a bit of an odd duck TTL. It's definitely there, but is more explicitly aligned with republicanism and perceived as slightly extreme. The SNP is a minor office-holder in cities and towns across Scotland. Devolution hasn't arrived in the home islands yet, but it is a major plank of the Labourite platform in line with their own ideas of how federalism ought to work; derided by Unionists as "balkanisation, not federalisation."

 

[TJDS]

In, most certainly in. May I ask, what is the current status of the Indian National Congress and the Pakistani-Indian Relations? Does, for example, Bangladesh exist? Furthermore, did Indira Gandhi's term happen the way it did?

Dibbs on the Indian Labour Party

 

[Luftwafer]

Name: Jeremy Bernard Corbyn
Position: MP for Islington North
Age: 41
Bio: Born in Chippenham, in 1949, his parents met while protesting against the Spainish civil war. His father bought a 7 bedroom house in Shropshire that they named Yew Tree Manor.

He was educated at an independent school in Shropshire before moving onto a grammar school, even though he was a member of the Wrexham young socialist group, his local Labour Party and the soceity against cruel sports.

He went on to do sixth form, getting two Es at A level. After school he worked as a newspaper reporter at his local paper before doing two years of voluntary work in the British Dominion of Jamaca.

He became a Qualified electrician there and when he returned, he pursued a degree at North London polytechnic in trade union studies, but he dropped out in his first year.

Later he ran the Garment makers and tailors Union. Where he caught the eye of tony Ben, and he lead the campaign, which was inevitably unsuccessful for him to become deputy prime minister.

He became the secretary for Islington North, his future constituency in 1981

As soon as he became the MP for Islington North, he joined the socialist commission and started writing for the morning star. In 1983 he clashes with conservatives over his dress code, and his socialist allegiances.

He has on numerous occasions disobeyed three line whips, something that can result in immediate expulsion from a party, however Jeremy Corbyn won his seat again in the next election, with a large majority.

In 1990 he sits incumbent in parliament as a labour backbencher against a thatcher government.






I won't be edgy this game at all
I want to prove that I'm not as bad as everyone thinks

 

[Ab Ovo]

In, most certainly in. May I ask, what is the current status of the Indian National Congress and the Pakistani-Indian Relations? Does, for example, Bangladesh exist? Furthermore, did Indira Gandhi's term happen the way it did?

The INC is not really a thing anymore. While considered instrumental in the negotiations which lead to the creation of the Federation (where India was of course a major concern) and achieving Indian autonomy; it quietly faded into history in the aftermath of Gandhi's term. Indira was noted for her hardline stance towards Pakistan during her administration, and India very nearly went to war with them. This was wildly unacceptable with the rest of the Federation, and London was forced to intervene to avoid tensions spiraling into a much more serious crisis. Because of all the hubbub the INC roundly lost the next elections in India; and their remnants are now affiliated with the Indian Labour Party.

 

[TJDS]

the Rt. Hon. Rahul P. A. Sharma as Minister of the Interior in 1977
​

Name: Rahul Pamulaparti Atal Sharma
Position: Prime Minister of India, Leader of the Indian Labour Party and Sansad for the Ramtek Lok Sabha Constituency
Political Party: Indian National Congress (1962-1971), Indian Labour Party (since 1973)
Age: 55
Bio:

Rahul Pamulaparti Atal Sharma (March 3rd 1935) is an Indian chemist and politician who has served as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of India since 1984, as Leader of the Indian Labour Party since 1973 and as Sansad (Member of Parliament) for the Ramtek Lok Sabha (House of the People, Lower House of the Commonwealth of India) since 1977. Rahul Pamulaparti Atal Sharma was born in Aurangabad in the Princely State of Hyderabad, he claimed that he came from `humble origins`, his father and mother both hailed from agrarian families. Sharma studied Chemistry at the Osmania University in Hyderabad, graduating top of his class in June 1958 and gaining his D.Sc. in Chemistry in 1960. During his time at the university, Sharma became increasingly interested in politics, becoming an official member of the Indian National Congress and staunch follower of INC Party Leader Jawaharlal Nehru in the wake of the 1958 Indian General Election, becoming the main voice of leftist thought at the Osmania University. Following the end of his studies at the Osmania University in 1960, Sharma became Professor in Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science in Bombay, where he taught young minds till 1973.

After the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, the Indian National Congress and indeed the entire Indian State was left unable to fill the void left by him. The Indian National Congress eventually elected Lal Bahadur Shastri as the new Prime Minister of India, who, despite sharp critique at home, worked with the Pakistani Government in London to depolarize the relations between the two federal nations, which had been seriously harmed by Pakistani backed terrorists insurgencies in Kashmir in 1965 and 1966. The actions taken by Shastri taken in September 1966 would eventually cause a split in the party between the anti-London Agreement and the pro-London Agreement groups, which, despite clear disagreements about Pakistan, would not come to officially split until 1971, when Indira Gandhi, INC Prime Minister of India and a staunch anti-London Agreement member, chose to intervene in the Pakistani Civil War on behalf of East Pakistan. The Imperial Parliament, althought having denounced the Pakistani Civil War three times, remained rather inactive on the issue, wishing to prevent a split in the Federation, quickly took action after Gandhi's declaration, passing motions placing heavy sanctions on the Indian Economy. Prime Minister Gandhi responded by sending Rahul Sharma, who had risen to prominance in the Indian National Congress as vocal proponent of the London agreement in the aftermath of the Shastri Ministry, as head of a peace mission to London, where he negotiated the immideate end of all sanctions in return for the retreat of all Indian troops from Pakistani ground within 24 hours, while also paving the way of the defacto independent commonwealth nation of Bangladesh.

Sharma, largely credited with brining an end to the Pakistani Civil War, left the Indian National Congress three days after returning from London, declaring that the Indian National Congress had lost its way of peace and prosperity. This would become the end of the Gandhi Government, which, hoping to maintain power until public opinion was more positive, declared martial law, which made Indira Gandhi defacto monarch of India, ruling by decree, without much resistance from the Imperial Parliament, which, again, tried to prevent a split in the Federation. It was not until 1973 that there would be any response to the Martial Law from London, but on March 10th 1973, the Labour Party officially expelled the Indian National Congress from the Federal Labour Alliance (the alliance of all centre left to left parties in the Commonwealth) and asked Rahul Sharma whether he would want to form a Labour Ally in India, to which he happily complied. The Indian Labour Party would offically be established May 1st 1973, with Sharma as its Leader and with support from disillusioned INC voters.

It would not be until 1977 when the Indian National Congress Government was confident enough to declare a general election, which they lost to the Janata Party - an alliance of all parties opposed to INC rule, including the ILP - the Indian National Congress would never recover from that loss. The Janata Party Leader, Morarji Desai would become the first non-INC Prime Minister of India and together with Rahul Sharma, who became Minister of Internal Affairs, did much to reverse the increasingly authoritarian decrees of Prime Minister Gandhi and to make future curtailment of civil rights far harder than previously with amendment to the constitution. The Janata Party would survive until 1984, when the Indian Labour Party and the various conservative parties of the Janata Party failed to find a succesor to Prime Minister Charan Sigh, who had succeed Desai in 1979. The following election, Sharma, the popular peacebroker and socialist, and the Indian Labour Party won the election, recieving of the popular vote 34,6% of the vote and 287 seats in the Lok Sabha. As Prime Minister Rahul Sharma has lead India further on its path to complete industralization and has taken steps to increase the living standard of all Indians. He was returned to office in 1989, with 38,7% of the popular vote and 304 seats in the Lok Sabha.

Titles:
Prof. Rahul P. A. Sharma, D.Sc. (1960-1977)
The Rt. Hon. Prof. Rahul P. A. Sharma, Minister of the Interior of India, D.Sc. (1977-1984)
The Rt. Hon. Prof. Rahul P. A. Sharma, Prime Minister of India, D.Sc. (since 1984)

 

[Noco19]

Put me down as Pakistani PM. Will flesh out after class.

 

[sealy300]

​

I get Kinnocked down, but I get up again, you are never going to keep me down. In as the Leader of the Labour Party.

 

[Bonecracker(NL)]

In as the Rhodesian PM.

 

[Ab Ovo]

​

I get Kinnocked down, but I get up again, you are never going to keep me down. In as the Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Party.

*Labour Party

 

[sealy300]

*Labour Party

Fair enough.

 

[Watercress]

Gordon Brown, Labour MP for Dunfermline East and Shadow Secretary of State for Trade​

 

[Korona]

​

Name: Alfred Sant
Positions: Prime Minister of the Dominion of Malta, Leader of the Maltese Liberal Democratic Party
Political Party: The Maltese Liberal Democratic Party (1970 - present)
Age: 42
Biography: Before entering politics, Alfred Sant aspired to be an author. He failed miserably. Sant realized that being an author was not right for him, so he entered politics at the age of 22. Managing to become a MP for Malta at the ago 26 as a Lib. Democrat, Sant became a major player in Maltese politics. He transformed the Liberal Democratic Party from a unpopular party to the uncontested ruler of Malta. He became Prime Minister at the age of 40, after serving 10 years as a MP and 5 years as Leader of the Maltese Liberal Democratic Party.

Titles:
The Hon. Alfred Sant, Member of Parliament (1974 - 1984)
Leader of the Maltese Liberal Democratic Party (1985 - present)
The Hon. Prime Minister of Malta (1988 - present)

 

[AzagalTheGreat]

((Claiming Canada please. Post up after watching this Fallout 4 Video))

 

[XVG]

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Leader of Conservatives and Unionists in the Dominion of Pakistan​

 

[Noco19]

Benazir Bhutto
Prime Minister of the Dominion of Pakistan and Leader of the Pakistani Labour Party​