United Kingdom

Britain

Parliamentary Democracy

The **United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland**, or simply the **United Kingdom** or **Britain**, is a country in north-western Europe with imperial colonies all over the world. The UK is a constitutional monarchy, with George V sitting as the King, and Oswald Mosley as the Prime Minister.

The United Kingdom is one of the major players in the world, with the largest Empire the world has ever seen. It holds dominion over countries vastly larger than it, including Canada, India, South Africa and Australasia to name a few. The King is the Head of State in various Commonwealth nations.

## History

### Immediate Aftermath of the War

Immediately after the war, the United Kingdom found itself a struggling economic nation; while help was supplied from the United States, Britain found itself unable to contend to its abilities as a powerful Empire. With the Great War ending so late and without American support in such, the British found itself becoming targeted by republican sentiment and independence attacks, the most notable of which was Ireland under the ambitious Michael Collins. The country agreed to grant Irish Home Rule while maintaining control of Ulster, which resulted in the Irish Civil War over the fate of the new Irish Republic.

But Britain's focus especially turned on its clear enemy once again: Germany, and specifically the rise of German Spartacism.

### Staunch Anti-Socialism

The United Kingdom has been exceptionally sceptical towards the German Socialist Republic. Prime Minister David Lloyd George originally wanted to intervene in the new state, but revolts from workers and war veterans deterred his mind, and Britain has since aimed to spark new relations with Germany, despite holding its grudges. Because of the ongoing industrialisation of the Soviet Union and Germany, Britain has remained harshly sceptical of socialism, and many socialist practices are frowned upon and even banned in many places in the country.

The problem of Germany resulted in Britain taking a greater step into the international realm. In 1922, Britain founded the Council of Allies along with France and Belgium, and has since sought out continued military and political alliances with them. The Council still remains intact, and Britain a committed member, inviting others such as its strong ally in Asia, the Empire of Japan.

Britain's industry had been heavily affected by the war, and for much of the beginning of the 1920s, the British economy stagnated. The return of the Gold Standard under Chancellor Winston Churchill infuriated many miners and British workers, and the attack on the coal industry sparked the flame for a General Strike in 1926.

The British government, specifically the staunch Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, acted swiftly, and fearing a revolution similar to the one in Germany, the military were deployed to deal with the matter. Churchill himself was put in charge of a taskforce that included both regular people and British fascists who were determined to take on the socialists.

### Socialism Revamped

The 1926 General Strike failed, but helped spur British parliamentarians, especially the rising Labour Party, to remold its image. The Labour Party won the 1929 general election with a minority government, and Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald appointed Oswald Mosley to be the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. His ideas, which he had portrayed in the Mosley Memorandum, were seen as 'revolutionary but in a good way' that MacDonald saw perfect for a new Labour Britain. Despite this, MacDonald saw Mosley as cocky and overly ambitious, and was reluctant to give him anything further.

However, the Mosley Memorandum was a widely regarded successful plan, which shot the Labour Party ahead. People started calling for Ramsay MacDonald's resignation, and in his place, choosing Oswald Mosley instead to lead the Labour Party. In 1931, the Labour Party's minority government caved in, and MacDonald blamed Mosley for undermining the government.

MacDonald left the party to establish his own National Labour movement, and Mosley swung right into power of Labour. Against Stanley Baldwin and Ramsay MacDonald, two figures shrouded with controversy, Mosley won the election with a strong majority, the first majority Labour had seen in its entire existence.

### Mosley: Man of the Future

Now as Prime Minister, all eyes are on Mosley. Already, many have compared his style of leadership to that of a Presidential model. He has already, to some disagree, acted above his Cabinet and his Parliament, and has formed small crony circles with other members of his loyal Labour Party. He has described himself as a vocal moderate left-winger, but one that will emphasise Britain's position in the world, and he has said first and foremost he loves his King and country.

His aims to unite the aristocracy and the working classes is in full swing, and many suggest he could be the best Prime Minister Britain has ever had - if he plays his cards right. Mosley has stated that Britain will hold a firm position against Germany, and will continue to be a bulwark of democracy and imperialism in the world.

With the idea of Roterkrieg dominating German as well as global political science, Mosley has formed relations with the German Free State and promised to guarantee their independence should the time come. It is clear Britain is mustering itself for the potential of war, along with its allies in the Council.

## Way Forward

The player can play the United Kingdom in a pretty flexible way. The most common paths are as follows:

### Stick with Mosley

The player can choose to continue with Mosley's government, perhaps having him win another election around 1935 or closer to the start of the Roterkrieg, which would have Mosley lead the country into war.

### Baldwin's Third Chance (Peacemaker)

The player can decide to go with Stanley Baldwin for more national security, but as a war time leader, Baldwin may be rather ineffective; instead, Baldwin could lead Britain into the forefront of diplomacy, rather than directly fight in the Roterkrieg, and ensure the maintenance of the Empire above all.

### Churchill Triumphant

The player can also go semi-historic (to an extent) and have Baldwin resign as leader of the Conservative Party before the next major election, with the more popular anti-socialist Winston Churchill taking his position as leader, and later as Prime Minister after beating Mosley. Churchill can then lead Britain into an axis of darkness against Germany in the Roterkrieg, and they shall never surrender.