1881 - 2 Low Whigs vs High Tories

 It's 1881 for my Late Victorian deck.  The Liberals are in power in Parliament, supported by several Whig MPs.  The Tories are out of favour so far.

The India Reform Bill comes to the dispatch box.
Bank of England Reserves are at 12000 guineas.

A second crises appears taking all stock from sitting MPs.  Times are tough.

Herbert Kitchener is dealt from the deck, but a crises in play requires his immediate resignation.  A pity since the Matabele War is out and we don't have anyone to go and fight it.

Gladstone, the Grand Old Man is dealt out onto the floor of the house.  He will be difficult for PM Russell to control.

With the India Reform passed the Bank of England is now at 48000 guineas 

Gladstone refuses the next concession.  He really does

 have his eyes on Russell's job.  The reserves soar. A few more stocks come out and I use them to bribe support for the India Reforms.  Parnell takes his shares.

I love these Victorian intrigues and scandals. Lady xxxxx has syphillis!!!  Punch magazine reported this one in the 1880s. Love a good scandal!

Lord Tweedmouth resigns from Government because of the scandal. He goes into the discards, but I develop a back benches system for politicians.

But the Russell Government is propped up against Gladstones ambition, as the Queen declares her confidence in the PM. 

Finally I deal out an Officer, "Bob's" Roberts.  The Exchequer pays 24000 to send him to Africa with a 24 point field force.

And at the end of 1881, twelve cards having been dealt, the Reserves are just 24000 guineas.  (My system uses the British base twelve for transactions so that's a two.  Still working on the game but it seems to be going well.

1882

The latest crisis is the Irish Famine.  Ireland unrest up by 4.  Expensive but we don't want it doubling so the Govt pays out.

The Pig War card.  In future I may make this an actual war, but for now its just fluff.

Things getting serious as another radical appears.  

And old "reverse" Buller appears.  I send him to Home Service, hoping I don't need to use him

The Tories are boosted by "ultramontane" Catholic Sydney Herbert.  Not sure if he will benefit them!

And out comes the big one.  48 points worth of War in the Sudan.  If I leave it and more Sudan cards come out it will be too strong to deal with.  What would the Queen say?  However at the moment I only have 24 in the reserves.

The Army Discipline Bill goes to the dispatch box.  12 points isn't enough but its a start.  The Bank is now 36.  Looking better for Russell's Govt.

A Boer leader is dealt on the Cape.

Followed by an Afghan.  Let's hope there are no Sudan leaders near the top of the deck.

But all is saved.  The Rhodes Company shares come out.  South African Unrest boosted by 2.

If Russell can use this windfall to pay for a Sudan War it will remove his problems, except that Buller is the only general I have free.

However in the division the Radicals like the look of that money.  Gladstone abstains, his ambition is to be PM so he cannot vote unless in that Office.

Morley and Wodehouse vote with Russell but it's not enough.

Disraeli defeats the Liberals and Russels Govt collapses.  Its November 1882.

The Tories seize power and its a Disraeli Government.  The Rhodes shares are divided between the Victor's and the Sudan war remains active.

Parnell, a radical, crosses the floor to join Disraeli.  Lord Churchill is paid 12000 guineas to support the new Govt. (Churchill is rated "disloyal" and this requires a payment to bring both him  and Parnell into the administration.)

Treasury at 12

Two Concessions come out for November and December, a Catholic Reform going to Herbert, and Army boots taken by Lord Churchill, who has enjoyed a profitable 1882!