BBC - Parliament narrowly passes green legislation

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Polluting smokestacks near Planet New London

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Parliament Narrowly Passes Green Legislation

PLANET NEW LONDON - Parliament has passed the Industrial Economy Act 836, setting new rules around industrialisation on Planet New London and the broader system. The legislation was initially tabled by the Green Party, and sought to impose more stringent controls on pollution in the capital, cap the deployment of further modular stations, and more evenly distribute economic development and wellfare around Bretonia. In the aftermath of the Gallic Invasion, Bretonia increasingly centralised its economy around New London, with the incumbent Crown Royalist Party also weakening several key worker and environmental protections in the name of reconstruction. Wartime industrialization and the post-war reconstruction undid decades of progress towards cleaning up the capital's environment and improving quality of life, resulting in the resumption of acid rain comparable to the deluges of the 730s. Prime Minister Ambrister Jones was a staunch opponent during initial readings of the bill, launching into fiery tirades against its sponsors. The Crown Royalists argued that concessions to environmental "radicals" would damage Bretonia's economy at a time when sector-wide inflation was already imposing headwinds at critical moment of its recovery. Despite this, popular discontent has roiled Bretonia in recent years, and many of the Act's provisions have broad popular support - particularly among the affluent and influential citizens of Cambridge and New London. As a result, the Greens found willing partners among the Whigs and Social Democratic Federation. Despite the Liberal Party's stringent opposition to further government interference in commerce, rumours of a CRP backbench revolt by a number of high profile MPs indicated that the bill was highly likely to pass. Shortly after the bill's second reason, the Prime Minister abruptly changed his position, instructing party whips to vote in favour of the legislation. Pundits are already speculating that this represents a further erosion of Jones' authority, as his razor-thin margin in Parliament leaves little room for manoeuvre. Had the bill passed despite the ruling party's opposition, it would likely have triggered a Vote of No Confidence that could have toppled the government. Retired MP and prominent Green activist Terence Wimberley applauded the bill's passage: "It is wonderful that the Prime Minister has ultimately decided to do the right thing, even if it was for a cowardly, self-serving reason."

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