Union Party

The Union Party, formally known as the Conservative-Liberal Union Party, is a centre-right, pro status quo party formed in 1947 just before the signing of the Treaty of International Governance in Louiton. It is an amalgamation of the two pre-treaty political parties, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party (modeled after their British counterparts). Its current leader is Cr. George Windsor, and holds 7 seats in the Municipal Council, and 14 seats in the Legislative Assembly.

## History

### Formation of the Party

After the end of WW2, negotiations began over the various treaty ports ceded to various foreign powers. Among these, Louiton was a key economic and political city, with one of the largest European populations. After negotiations between the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Republic of France and the United States of America concluded, the Treaty of International Governance (1947) was signed before the General Assembly of the UN.

With the signing of the treaty, the political landscape changed, the European only Concession Council, which held jurisdiction over the Financial and Foreign Quarters (the economic and political heart of Louiton), was abolished, with the Municipal Council replacing it. The anti-foreign party, Labour Workers Party, formed in 1945, was looking on track to have one of their candidate elected Lord Mayor with a comfortable majority in the new Municipal Council.

The two pro European parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals were in danger of becoming sidelined. To secure their political position, various lobbyists, most prominently from the influential Tea Club, ferociously campaigned for the two parties to unite. The leader of the Liberals (the more junior of the two parties), Herbert Dixon Asquith, was highly receptive to a merger, after his Party had fallen into obscurity as part of various Coalition governments, always as the junior member. The leader of the Conservative Party, Marcus Crawford, was highly hesitant, his party still relatively strong as of 1946. After extensive debate, and the conduct of numerous polls, he was finally convinced however, and agreed late November, 1946. On the 1st of January, 1947, the Conservative-Liberal Union Party was proclaimed, shortly before the signing of the treaty on the 25th of January.

### Early Years

Following the implementation of the Treaty of International Governance, the Union Party did extremely well, achieving a majority in the 1949-1969 elections and dominating politics at all levels in Louiton. This period is known as the Blue Era, during which several stringent security measures were introduced in the government's War Against Communism, as well as an enlargement of the foreign garrisons stationed in Louiton.

Marcus Crawford served as Lord Mayor from 1949 to 1956, and then successfully passed the baton to Jonathan Fitzhubert who served as Lord Mayor until 1971.

It was also during these years that the suburbs of Louiton began to develop as the city expanded outwards, and its economy developed rapidly under the pro-business policies of the Union Party.

Although these years were a period of prosperity for Loution, especially as the number of refugees and expatriates fleeing Mao's Cultural Revolution bolstered both the city's economic growth and the Union Party's support, towards the end of this period with the Garret Scandal in 1968, Union support began to waver.

This saw the Party narrowly defeated in the 1971 election, with a minority Labour Workers' government taking its place.