Arthur Caithness, representing the Bowex Fringe, seated next to his friends and colleagues, who all worked hard to ensure that the nationalised Bretonian firms such as Bretonian Mining and Manufacturing and Borderworlds Exports served the interests of the Crown, and Bretonia as a whole, stood up, outraged.
"Why should hard-working Bretonians pay taxes and tribute to the Independent Miners' Guild? They are effectively a foreign nation, or at least a private concern, who do not have the right to demand any such payment from Bretonian citizens!
If the IMG want to gain the benefits of operating in tandem with Bretonian firms, they should not be demanding anything. After all, my competitors in Gateway Interstellar seem to get on okay, don't they? They, as a private firm, aren't demanding government subsidies!
The Independent Miners already gain from relations with Bretonia, after all, we are their best customers. We purchase their ores, and they profit from this. Giving them hard-earned BMM profits is nought but simple protectionism!"
He slammed his fist in to the bench in front of him, unseating the Conservative who was applauding him.