Kingdom of England/Localisation

## Leaders

* Alec Douglas-Home
* Margaret Thatcher

Alexander Douglas-Home was not a man born into any true power. He served in the Territorial Army to no great success, married his wife Elizabeth in a ceremony of little note, and served as a Member of Parliament with little influence before leaving in 1937 to be the aide of Neville Chamberlain. Though initially serving as Chamberlain's eye in the House, after he left the Government Home was caught up in bigger problems. He spent most of 1940-1943 in a full cast for the spinal tuberculosis he had removed. Thus Home missed much of the bungling of the Unity Government in the war effort - along with much of the blame, something which proved useful when the Germans invaded.

Home was present at the signing of the peace treaty that dissolved the United Kingdom by virtue of inheriting his father's lordship in 1942, but held little influence in English affairs for the remainder of the decade. The 1950's however proved more favourable, with Home emerging as perhaps the archetypical representative of the Royal Establishment, desiring above all else to prevent a second invasion. The Royal Party is de facto an alliance of several groups, and as one PM after another fell to infighting, riots or German disagreement, Home simply kept rising: first to leader of the House of Lords, and then to Foreign Minister under Mountbatten. Finally, following the brief leaderless year of 1958, Home was convinced to take the post of Prime Minister.

Home's government has been a relatively stable one compared to his predecessors. He has managed to solidify the Royal Party, and is tolerated if not exactly liked by the Garrison in Cornwall. Now however, with the rising influence of HMMLR, Home faces far more perilous straits, and whether he shall lead his nation into survival or damnation remains to be seen.

What is the making of a great leader? Is it the ability to compromise? To crush all opposition or ensure it never forms in the first place? The answer Margaret Thatcher would give is a simple one. What makes a leader is an iron will to do what is needed, and the courage to see it through until the end..

People said a grocer's daughter and chemist couldn't possibly stand against a respected independent candidate in the 1951 by-election and win, yet Thatcher did so. Her own colleagues were certain she was nothing but a minor blip on the radar, no need to worry about her becoming a well known face. Then in poll after poll Mrs Thatcher emerged as one of the most popular Royal Party politicians in England for her efforts to champion the cause of the ordinary citizen. In the aftermath of the English Civil War, and the resignation of PM Alec Douglas-Home, nobody whatsoever thought a woman with no solid power base could be anything more than a puppet of the party leadership, Prime Minister or not.

It will be interesting to see about that one.

Margaret has a dream, of a strong and independent England answering to neither Germania nor Washington, of a people no longer cowed by intimidation but loyal to the government out of gratitude. Margaret Thatcher will move mountains to see England prevail, whether the world is set against her or not. For she knows that one misstep could well mean her doom.