Scott House

Scott House in 3020

Minister for Trade and International Development

**Scott House** (born 17 May 2966) is a Wiltshirian politician and charity leader who served in a number of ministerial positions throughout Wiltshirian history, including Chancellor of the Exchequer and Minister for Trade and International Development, under a number of different Socialist governments.

Following the general election in 3020, House stood as a candidate for Socialist Party Leader, winning the contest to become Deputy Prime Minister of Wiltshire.

## Early Career

House was first elected to political office in 2990 to the Federation House of Representatives to represent North America. He was the youngest congressman in the New Federation's short history and was a member of the Democratic Party. He only held office for two years, being unseated in 2992 by Republican Dianna Harding. House continued his campaigning against the C.E./Federation War. House was the Vice Chair of the Stop the War campaign group and following the conclusion of the war became a volunteer in the re-settlement of refugees. He eventually settled with a large group of refugees in Wiltshire.

House was immediately intrigued by the politics of Wiltshire. However, he refused to join the National Coalition (the governing political party led by Jaresh Inyo) and so ran for election to the National Assembly in September 3009 as an independent. He failed to get elected, however, when Thomas Shore broke away and formed the Socialist Party, House joined and became a campaigner and political advisor for the new party. When the party entered government, House served on the campaign staff of Prime Minister Shore and was eventually elected to the National Assembly in July 3010.

He served as a backbencher until 3012 when he was appointed Shadow Minister for Health under the leadership of Thomas Shore Jr. Following Shore Jr's defeat in the January 3013 election, House was promoted to Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer under the new Leader, Renly Stork.

House became Chancellor in March when Stork formed his government following the 3013 vote of no confidence in the Jellico Ministry. He served as Chancellor until Stork's defeat in May 3013. He continued as Shadow Chancellor after this until October 3014 when Renly Stork resigned as Leader of the Socialist Party. House ran to succeed him, however, he was unable to win the contest against the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Damion Guard. Guard was elected Leader and appointed House the Shadow Leader of the Assembly. Following Guard's death in December 3014, House once again ran for the leadership but lost, again, to Keir Krussinich (the son of the former Leader Karl Krussinich).

After this defeat, House left the Shadow Cabinet and returned to the backbenches until Frank Eddington was elected Leader in December 3015. Eddington appointed House was Shadow Minister for International Development and when he entered government, appointed House the Minister for Trade and International Development. House served in this role for three years until Eddington left power in 3019. House did not contest the leadership, instead supporting the Deputy Leader and Chancellor Liam Drakeford (who went on to be defeated by Rita Smith for the Leadership). House left the Assembly in January 3019 when he retired from politics. House moved to Newton where he continued to work in charity work.

During the crisis' of 3019, House made public statements against NNF membership and in favour of Independence during the 3019 referendum. When Wiltshire was invaded by the NCR, House "went underground" and continued much of his charity work - some of which was now illegal under the NCR's regime. He even took in Gaius Selan's half-tauran son when Selan fled the country to form the government-in-exile.

In 3020, House came out of retirement to run for the National Assembly once again following Wiltshirian independence from the NCR. With the support of President Selan, House was easily elected as a Socialist AM and then became the party's deputy leader. As a Socialist, he holds much of the beliefs as the leader, Tony Beck. However, there are serious disagreements between House and Beck on issues such as the Neu Wiltshire border, military spending and support of the President. Following Beck's resignation, House announced his candidacy for Leader of the Socialist Party. Winning the contest in early July, House became Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Socialist Party.