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Martin Banks formed the First Banks Ministry on May 29, 3013 following the failure of incumbent Prime Minister Renly Stork to form a government and his subsequent resignation. The First Banks Ministry, being a minority Conservative administration, was a relatively short lived one and only existed until the November 3013 Wiltshire General Election - where Banks secured an overall majority of the Conservative Party.
This government was not a coalition and did not have any formal agreements or arrangements with other parties. The Liberal Alliance were not in a position to continue to prop-up Renly Stork due to divisions within the party and Stork's fallen support in the Assembly.
History and formation
Martin Banks served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under both Prime Minister Jaresh Inyo and Edward Jellico. Banks was a longtime supporter of the Conservative Party and right hand man to Jellico himself. However, Banks was significantly more pragmatic and charismatic. He was able to convince large groups of people to his point of view by the manner in which he spoke. This gave him a great advantage when Jellico resigned as Party Leader following his government's defeat in the 3013 vote of no confidence in the Jellico Ministry.
Banks was unopposed in his election as Conservative Leader and went onto defeat Stork in the next election. The campaign slogan "You voted Conservative but were given a Socialist" did a good job at highlighting the undemocratic nature of Stork's succession to the premiership.
Following the election, the Conservatives were 2 seats short of a majority. The Socialists could have, in theory, continued in government with the support of the Liberal Alliance Party. However, the Liberal Alliance was split on the issue of whether or not to support Stork. Many did not wish to and even more were unhappy with the way in which Stork handled diplomatic relations with non-Socialist states across Doggerland.
The Liberals did not support Banks. However, they did not support Stork either. Banks, due to having the largest amount of support, was able to form a minority government. That government was ineffective and did little. However, Banks' character and charm was able to win the government a majority in the next election.
Cabinet
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister
Minister for the Civil Service Leader of the Assembly |
Martin Banks AM | ||
| Chancellor of the Exchequer
Minister for Finance |
Lucy Burgers AM | ||
| Minister for Defence | David Hark AM | ||
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Ludwig Kohl AM | ||
| Minister for Trade and International Development | Joel McCair AM | ||
| Minister for the Home Office
Minister for Internal Affairs |
Peter Hay AM | ||
| Minister for Utilities* | Pete Aventine AM | ||
| Minister for Work and Pensions | Eve Patterson AM | ||
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Andrea Drum AM | ||
| Chancellor of the Authority of Juneville | Gerald McMorrin AM | ||
| Minister for the Walkerton Office | |||
| Minister for the Washington Office | |||
| Attorney General |