Beluzia

[Intruder Emerald]

Conservatives support anti-Thallerist coalition as Rounds' biggest danger looks to be within his own party

After the Conservatives successfully proposed and passed an early election motion, they campaigned on an anti-Thallerist platform. Rounds said during the campaign he would support a grand coalition of parties to stop the Thallerist government. When he said that, it was likely he was hoping the Conservatives would get a major role within any new government. However, after gaining only one seat at the election and being the smallest party in the Quaiyl, the Conservatives were faced with the proposition of supporting a grand coalition on a confidence and supply basis. Rounds has said the party will support the grand alliance on this basis in the “national interest”.

The Conservatives won 6.1% of the vote and 28 seats in the election, up from 28 at the last election. Key Conservative figures heavily implied during the election campaign that there own internal polling showed a much better picture for the party than the national opinion polls did. Yet on election day, the Conservatives had to settle for being the smallest party in the Quaiyl. As it turns out, they may prove to be pivotal as they look set to support a new government in a confidence and supply arrangement.

Unfortunately for Julius Rounds, the Conservative parliamentary party appear dissatisfied with both the election result and Rounds’ strategy. Many Conservative MPs and commentators have been disappointed that the party has agreed to a confidence and supply arrangement with what appears to be very little attempt to negotiate a better deal.

It is understood that three letters of no confidence in the leadership have been submitted to the Conservative Party Chairman, Cain Creer. Party rules state that only 15% of MPs need to submit a letter of no confidence for a confidence vote to be triggered, meaning only a total of 5 out of 28 MPs is needed.

It is now also understood that Kim Lewis, the Conservative Spokesperson for Science & Technology and former minister, is considering resigning from her role and declaring she has no confidence in the leadership. If that happens, it will seem unlikely that Rounds would be to stop the momentum his opponents have.

Rounds is due to give a speech tomorrow, where he is likely to call for a period of stability and emphasise what he believes is the progress the party has made under his leadership. Whether this works is yet to be seen.