Liberal-Tory Party
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| Established | 2006 |
| Address | 1 Uxbridge Plaza, Praeton Bay, Praetonia PB01-D35 |
| Economic ideology | Neo-Liberal |
| Social ideology | Libertarian |
| Party leader | Sir Tiberius Polax |
| Party Chairman | Frederick von Kruger |
| Motto | For King and Commonwealth! |
The Liberal-Tory Party is a Praetonian political party which emerged from a schism within the Liberal Imperialist Party whereby the then Foreign Secretary, Sir Tiberius Polax, split from the party, taking a good deal of its members including the entire Neo-Liberal wing. The party was elected to power within the first year of its existance, following an election called by then Prime Minister, Sir Lucius Agrippa. The Party has experienced a great deal of success in its first term, and many political observers in Praetonia are waiting to see if the Liberal-Tories came take the place of the Liberal Imperialist Party as the natural party of government.
Contents
History
The Liberal-Tory Party is the product of almost a decade of internal struggled within the Liberal Imperialist Party over which economic direction to follow. Most of the party elite, including the party leader and several-times Prime Minister Sir Lucius Agrippa, sat on the left-wing of the economic spectrum and largely dominated party decision making. Under the Liberal Imperialist government, industry remained largely privatised and tax rates soared towards the middle of their reign.
Several influencial members of the party, however, as well as a large number of then backbench Liberal Imperialist MPs many of whom now hold Cabinet-level posts in the Liberal-Tory Government, deeply resented these policies and pressed for change towards a more laissez-faire economic system. These struggles remained largely secret and took place behind close party doors, and towards the end of the Liberal Imperialist government they did succeed in making policy changes. However, change did not progress at the speed they would have liked, and Sir Tiberius Polax feared that Sir Lucius Agrippa would soon resign in favour of a more staunchly socialist cabdidate.
2 years into the last Liberal-Imperialist term, Sir Tiberius official split from the Liberal Imperialists and formed the Liberal-Tory Party. Sir Lucius Agrippa, his parliamentary majority shattered, quickly called a new election and the King dissolved Parliament. Over the course of a 2 month campaign, the Liberal-Tory Party secured enough votes to gain a Parliamentary majority, albeit it a relatively small one, and secured the support of the Imperial Monarchists in the event of a hung Parliament.
Manifesto
Economy
The central policy aspect of the Liberal-Tories, the party promised to introduce a laissez-faire system with break-ups of the historic government-owned industrial giants and mass floatations on the stock market. The Liberal-Tory Party also supports massive reductions in regulation, notably on business, science and environmental concerns which could inhibt the aforementioned. The Party also supported the disbandment of all government services, including unemployment benefit, except for education which would remain government-run but with increased oppurtunities for private individuals and business to set up indepent schools. The Liberal-Tories have cultivated a strong working relationship with the CPI.
Defence
The Party promised significant increases in the defence budget to be funded by the expected (and realised) growth in the economy following economic deregulation. The Party is also thought to have secretly planned to use the armed forces as a king of social welfare system where the unemployed who could not find jobs would be forced by economic need to join the army. This appears to have been the case, and salaries in the military have increased, albeit marginally, but they remain above the average wage for an unskilled labourer and job security is virtually assured. Improvements have also been forthcoming for the navy, with a whole new set of ship classes from Imperial Praetonian Shipyards promised as well as a 10 - 12 ship class of new superdreadnoughts perported to be amongst the most advanced in the world.
Civil Liberties & Justice
The Liberal-Tory Party has promised considerable relaxation of gun laws and laws on 'victimless' crimes and they have reasserted the Liberal-Imperialist promise never to introduce restrictive or authoritarian laws in the name of counter-terrorism. The party has promised support for the existing liberal legislation set out by the previous Liberal-Imperialist government. As the Liberal-Tory Party is virtually identically to the Liberal-Imperialist Party with regards to matters of civil liberties, this section of the manifesto is almost empty.
Commonwealth and Empire
The Liberal-Tory Party has opposed planes for an Imperial Parliament which would represent all members of the Praetonian Commonwealth equally, but has promised a scheme whereby anyone holding 'Praetonian Subject' status or greater (ie. everyone living in the colonies or Praetonia herself) will have the right to vote for the Praetonian Parliament if they are living in Praetonia or the relevent colonial parliament, regardless of which part of the nation or Commonwealth they actually belong to. Most are happy with this scheme, which also includes a reaffirment of committment to free trade and free travel within the Commonwealth.
Foreign Affairs
Like the Liberal Imperialist Party, the Liberal-Tory Party is highly nationalist with regards to foreign affairs, and has reaffirmed the committment of the previous government to expand the Commonwealth wherever possible. The Party has strongly condemned Praetonia's historic enemies, including Doomingsland and Automagfreek and has pledged complete support to historic allies such as Sarzonia and Isselmere-Nieland. The government has also stated its support for any Praetonian company attempting to expand abroad into any country that is not embargoed.
