Robert Cartford

The Prime Minister of Essotori since 2020, Robert Cartford is a rising star in the National Mistery. Launching the Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety, Robert's passionate orator skills garnered him much favour in Essotori's legislature. Entering politics to remove control of the rail franchise from the corrupt House Burchen, Robert started life in a Conservative family, living in the small suburban town of Cutchfield all his life. Noted Conservative (by Essotori standards), he participated in the Welsbury faction for many years. He was sent to Radonstinatle University in 1978, to study advanced engineering. He was said to be pious, studious and with high moral character. He graduated in 1981, and worked as an apprentice for a large company in Radonstinatle. Around this time, he joined the public campaign to nationalise the Cunberia Railways, though would not achieve this goal until William Welsbury himself revoked the rail franchise from House Burchen, on 'Moral Safety' grounds. Since then, Robert enthusiastically supported Welsbury, and stood with him even in the final vote to remove him from power.

The Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety is among the oldest, and most respected Misteries, transitioning to support increased railway safety, and protesting against any attempts to reprivatise the railways. In 2003, he ran to become Prime Minister, agitating for continuing the Welsbury ideology. He was defeated, and in 2017, the reformist faction was dominant in the Regency Council, shutting down the Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety, after his continued opposition to them. He was suggested as a populist, yet conservative candidate by during the Jade Restoration, and the Ascended One accepted his candidacy. He has guided Essotori through many crises, and watches the ongoing Great Eastern War with concern.

## Biography

### Early Life and Career

Robert Cartford was born in Cutchfield, to a middle class, suburban family. He had a positive relationship with both of his parents, who supported his political aspirations throughout his life, all being Conservatives. He was sent to Radonstinatle University after developing a passion for engineering, specialising in trains and cars. While studying, he made lifelong political allies, and was mentored further in theological and rhetoric by his Professor, Albert Cummings. He graduated with a high grade in 1981, when he began working as an apprentice, doing welding and car maintenance in Radonstinatle.

### Entry into Politics

While working as an apprentice, Robert came into contact with Cunberia Rail, operated by the Noble House of Burchen. The House would drastically raise prices on tickets for the average person, conduct infrequent maintenance, and channel the earnings into their personal bank accounts. Robert joined the People's Movement for Commuters, which sought to pressure the government, though this accomplished little. While working as a speaker for the movement, Robert came across William Welsbury, a populist speaker. Welsbury, at the time was canvasing to become the representative of the power 'Resurgence' faction in the National Mistery, by seeing the causes of the average citizenry. On Welsbury's advice, Robert raised the funds to stand in the National Mistery as the Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety, to nationalise Cunberia Rail, and improve safety restrictions. Robert became swiftly enamored with Welsbury, and the two became staunch allies. Though Robert was only on the fringes of the Resurgence faction by the time Welsbury came to power in 1989, he was influential in swinging the moderates to endorse his appointment as Prime Minister.

### Politician, Welsbury's Hand

When Welsbury was confirmed as Essotori Prime Minister, Robert's family expected a peerage, as was defacto customary for Essotori Prime Ministers to grant their backers. Welsbury made the controversial stand of refusing to grant peerages his entire administration, as a sign of his independence, and loyalty to the Nozerod. He stated on ABC that "No Crownslave deserves the honour of the Ascended One even glancing at their names. Under this government, no peerages, state privileges, or rewards, will be granted until the Ritella of the Ascendancy is sustainable, once more. There are no new Lords, Peers, there are only Winners!" While this announcement enraged the Resurgence Faction's donors, the populist appeal resonated with Robert, as well as much of the country. Robert was given a phone call by Welsbury personally, who offered the young man a position as Minister for Transport in the Cabinet. This act sealed Robert's unending political loyalty to Welsbury, as it allowed the two to immediately shut down the House of Burchen's operations, and create the first Nationalised Railway in Essotori. After this task, Robert took many tasks in the course of the Welsbury Administration, though his loyalty never waived.

### The Loyalist

After governing Essotori for fourteen years, Welsbury's government collapsed in the face of the National Mistery's vote of no confidence, and the Nozerod's disfavor. Robert, like the remaining Welsburyists, retained his loyalty to Welbury. Live coverage of the vote by the ABC included presenter John Holde stating "The Honourable Crownslave Cartford talks of the Misteries stabbing the Prime Minister in the back, many are sure that he would happily take those stabs to keep the Prime Minister in power another week." Robert spoke passionate on the reforms of the Welsbury administration, defending the Ascendancy Uniform, the Ascendancy Moral Statute, and the many other deeply unpopular measures Welsbury implemented. After the vote, he was allegedly seen crying while leaving the Prime Minister's residence. The week after the Prime Minister's resignation, he announced his candidacy, as the most powerful member of the remaining Welsburyists.

### Continuing the Fight

While Robert was swiftly removed from any government positions by the incoming Prime Minister, he was still representative of the Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety, which reoriented itself towards maintaining the sustainability of the railway. This was done to establish the Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety as a Permanent Mistery, to act as a base for the Welsburyist Faction. After his resignation, Welsbury maintained a strong isolation, rarely leaving his house until his mysterious death in 2003. Robert paid homage to him at his funeral, and ran to be Prime Minister only three occasions. In 2015, for the Coronation ceremony of Nozerod Glorious Jade, Robert wrote a letter on behalf of the Welsburyist Faction, wishing the new Nozerod well. The Regency Council intercepted the letter, and deemed it 'self serving and political', and so did not deliver it to the Nozerod. Regardless, Robert and the Welsburyists fell into political decline in the following years, as the Regency Council identified them as the scapegoat in the Former Nozerod's death. The Cutchfield Mistery for Railway Safety was forcefully dissolved, despite it's permanent status.

### Rise to Prime Minister

After his Mistery was dissolved, Robert continued in politics as an independent politician. He ferociously attacked the 'New Cities', and organised a successful protest by local Conservatives in Cutchfield to prevent the construction of a New City nearby. Despite his lack of power, and the Welsbury faction's fall from grace, he was still fairly popular among Conservatives. During the Jade Restoration, he joined late, though was the most prominent, and popular politician involved. As such, the Nozerod Glorious Jade appointed him as Prime Minister, upon recommendation by the Interim Diet. \*NOT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE\* When Robert met the Ascended One, he fell to his knees and cried. When they asked him why, he declared "Master Welsbury was no liar! This Lowly Crownslave is truly a winner!" To which the Ascended One responded with confused laughter, though indulged him. The two are said to have a good relationship, and in April 2021, Robert achieved the greatest honour in Essotori society, 'Writing One's Name in the Heavens'. As such, he saw the Nozerod's face directly. He refused to comment afterwards.