BBC News: Bretonia Today

[The Kingdom of Bretonia]

Bretonia Today
with Stuart Allan presenting.

Whether you listen from your family home, during the commute through our capital's skies, or from a resistance wireless on Leeds, the Kingdom's news brought to you by the BBC. This is the first of our multi-part special on the changing face of the Kingdom in the past months, some upcoming predictions, and appearances from many high-ranking officials in their fields. I'm Stuart Allan, and this is Bretonia Today.

To begin our series, we focus on our head of State, Her Majesty Queen Carina I. Despite significant dips in popularity during her reign, the vast majority of Bretonians stand behind our Queen in this time of immense turmoil. Her continued firm resolve and valiant leadership have even drawn compliments from the Federalist Party and other Houses, and along with the Parliament has maintained the running of our nation as it stands to this day.

Although the majority of Her appearances are the passing of bills and announcement of other affairs of the State, we will first focus on a most prominent lack of declaration: the loss of control of Leeds' space to the Gallic Royalist invaders, or the Fall as it has become commonly known. Her Majesty has not surrendered the surface of the planet, which had a predicted 2 billion residents evacuated by Border World Experts over the past year, with those remaining still making their way off-planet when possible. Our Armed Forces continue to hold a large proportion of territory away from the main docking ring spaceports, although the Gallic Royal Navy are persistent in their attempts to change the status quo.

Unfortunately, we are not all as brave as our men and women fighting to keep our proud industry out of the wrong hands. Lord Evan Wilson, now-former chief advisor to the planetary Governor, has been charged with collaborating with the enemy in a time of war. Rather than take shelter or last-minute evacuation, Lord Wilson and his Collaborators have made peace and began to assist the Gauls in their bastardising of Leeds.

Viewed as the most important announcement since the Fall, yet surprisingly low-key, was the appointment of our new Prime Minister, following the resignation of Sir Andrew Maloney.
Elected in the last election that saw the Royalist Party increase their majority (in the aftermath of the PPB's disbandment, and to the detriment of the Federalists), Sir Maloney has cited ill-health brought on by stress and a desire to spend more time with his family as deciding factor.
Taking the reigns of Her Majesty's Government is George Woodrow. With over three decades of political experience, sandwiched around two tours in the Armed Forces, the previous Minister for Defence has received almost unanimous support from the Royalists and reportedly appeased some of his political opponents.

Our current Minister of Defence, Sir Firmus Piett - previously Fleet Admiral of Her Majesty's Armed Forces - has also had an increased royal spotlight, as it were. Due to his pivotal role in the last command of Leeds during the invaders' push, the Queen has bestowed upon him a peerage, as Lord of Jarrow on New London. Along with the previous military awards presentations, this has restored some faith in the awarding of, and I quote from one citizen, "real titles, rather than all the financial ones the corporate bigwigs are paying for". A strong opinion indeed, sir.

A sneak preview of our next broadcast's topic is the formal re-integration of the Poole system by Her Majesty and of course the Sprague Colonisation effort that is going strong, among other economic changes that the Kingdom has underwent. Joining me will be our current Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sir Richard Northridge.

Until then, stay safe and good night.

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