Baxter Knightwood

**Baxter William Knightwood** is a Fickolean politician, MP, and current sitting candidate for the Schoosh Party. In the 2058 (2018, Mt) Fickolean Presidential Election he gained 20% of the vote.

Knightwood came to prominence in 2048 (2008, Mt) after rejecting a position in Drankli's cabinet as foreign policy adviser. This was used by anti-Drankli media outlets and gave Knightwood a platform to criticise Drankli.

Since then he has written several theses, and spoken at numerous rallies and academic institutions, before running against Drankli in the 2058 election, in which he increased the Schoosh party's parliamentary mandate from 19.2% to 20.2%. During the election, he also received the support of numerous Brewn party candidates.

## Life and Upbringing

Baxter William Knightwood was born of the 199th of 1999 (1959, Mt) to father William Tennis Knightwood and mother Denise Loucaise. His mother and father both owned properties through the New Alifca area and his mother was also a prominent judge in the Congress of Judges, who was instrumental in the re-establishment of the senate in 1941 (Mt) following the death of President Yove Kanib.

Baxter Knightwood has described his upbringing as 'peaceful and tranquil at times, and at others times frought with worry, despair, stress; as though we were on the edge of financial ruin'. -Knightwood refers to his parents' 'neurotic' nature as people involved in sporadically changing real estate circumstances.

Knightwood was brought up an atheist, but 'discovered' Jogoism aged 12, when engaging in discussion with his peers. Afterwards he insisted he attend a Jogoist school, which his parents obliged.

### Education

After graduating from Jogoist school in 1977 (Mt), Knightwood attended New Alifca City University where he attained two pass degrees in military history and political science respectively. In 1982 (Mt) he joined the Schoosh Party at his university, and became a well-known speaker among the Schoosh and Brewn societies on his campus. His professors deemed him 'an excellent orator with great potential', leading Knightwood to run for mayor of New Alifca City in 1987 (Mt), the same year he graduated from university.

## Political Career (1987 - 2018, Mt)

### New Alifca City Mayoral Elections

In 1987 (Mt), Knightwood ran against one of his own professors, as well as incumbent Mayor Dustin Playard, and rising liberal candidate Jayla Claw. Knightwood came 5th in the race, failing to make it to the final stage, during which Playard was re-elected. Knightwood beat his own professor, and received significant media attention, including an interview in the New Alifcan Intrigue magazine.

Knightwood's mayoral campaign was characterised by pledges to bring back religious funding, not just for Jogoism but for other religions, and to increase political integrity. He accused Dustin Playard of having 'alterior motives for many of [his decisions]', as well as 'lack[ing] integrity and honour'.

### Foreign Policy Adviser

In 1988 (Mt), Knightwood attended the National Convention for Foreign Policy Changes, in which 'experts in the field' met up to discuss flaws in Fred Bomb's foreign policy approach towards Biackaar and Warhammer. In 1989 (Mt), after the formation of a new government following James Frymer's election, Knightwood was appointed as a foreign policy advisor. Frymer and Knightwood had been acquainted through a mutual friend, Vepser De'Atom, who was later dismissed of his office as Secretary for Labour.

Knightwood resigned from his post after his advise was rejected multiple times. He was praised by his peers following his resignation, for having some of the best intuitions.

### Anti-Dranklism

In 1993 (Mt), after Drankli was elected, Knightwood went on to write a number of theses and books claiming that Fred Bomb should have begun more 'constructive engagement' with planets like Warhammer, to prevent the possibility of conflict. To the surprise of much of his following and some of his more famous fans, such as Jackie Pallison, Knightwood showed support for Drankli's handling of the Warhammer-Nansive Conflict.

In 2008 (Mt), following Drankli's relection for a fourth term, Knightwood was approached and offered a position as a Foreign Policy Adviser under Pallison, who had not yet been given the position. Knightwood declined, and Pallison also fell behind him. Knightwood was then interviewed and focused upon in numerous news and television shows, especially those with anti-Dranklist leanings. Knightwood used the opportunity to speak out against Drankli's tax policies, and also his 'malevolent' policies on separating religion from the state and defunding religion.

## Presidential Campaign, 2058 (2018, Mt)

In 2057 (Mt) Baxter Knightwood announced he would 'possibly' be running for President against Drankli Panda due to pressure from within his party and from friends, peers and followers.

Then, in 2058 (Mt) at a very late point in the process, Knightwood announced his bid to run for President. This diminished Brewn candidate Rob Kenny's polling rating, and led to a number of Brewn candidates retiring throughout the process and supporting Knightwood.

He criticised Drankli on religion, taxation, and foreign policy, in which he said he had 'compiled the right teams, and dutifully failed to listen to them'. Knightwood favoured greater engagement with Evancya, as well as other planets in Grangeen Smar and Nenji Warabb, to increase Ficko's sphere of influence.