Erik Barnes

**F.M. the Rt. Hon. Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC, ID, MP**

21st Leader of the Loyal Opposition
Term:	14 March 2012–2 February 2013
Predecessor:	Amelia Pietersen
Successor:	Alex Foster
14th Minister of Finance
Term:	18 November 2006–29 August 2011
Predecessor:	Péricles Maranhão Neto
Successor:	Richard LeVeque
13th Minister of Foreign Affairs
Term:	15 January–8 February 2006
Predecessor:	Sir Jeremy Cannon
Successor:	Sir Jeremy Cannon
9th Chief of the Defence Staff
Term:	1 November 1992–18 November 1999
Predecessor:	William Barriter
Successor:	George Venderschmitt
Member of the House of Commons
Term:	12 August 2004–
District:	Kensington-Royal Arbor-New Windsor
Party:	Conservative
Born:	9 March 1947 New Windsor
Profession:	Ibaglian Army soldier
Religion:	Roman Catholic

Field Marshal the Right Honourable Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC, ID, MP (9 March 1947–) was the Minister of Finance of Ibagli from 2006 to 2011. He also served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 1992 to 1999. From March 2012 to February 2013, he was the acting Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of party leader Alex Foster who was without a seat in the House of Commons.

Early Life

He was born on 9 March 1947 in New Windsor to Geoff Barnes, a bakery owner, and Linda Meeuwsen, a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School. Both were immigrants to Ibagli.

Military Service

After leaving secondary school, Barnes attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1969, he graduated from Sandhurst and became a commissioned officer in the 2nd Batallion Royal Ibaglian Regiment. Upon his return, Ibaglian forces were sent to Vietnam.

Barnes was among the first Ibaglian soldiers to enter Vietnam in late 1969. After Ibagli withdrew troops in 1972, he was returned to Ibagli, having earned the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross during his time in Vietnam. In 1973, he carried the Queen's Colour of the Second Battalion Royal Ibaglian Regiment at the Queen's Birthday Parade.

Barnes made his way through the ranks in the Army. In 1989, he was appointed Chief of the General Staff, and was promoted to the rank of General. In 1992, he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, and promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. He would serve in that role until 1999. He was appointed colonel of the Royal Ibaglian Regiment in 2000.

Political Career

In late 2004, Barnes ran for a seat in the House of Commons in the district of Kensington-Royal Arbor-New Windsor as a member of the Conservative Party. In 2005, he was a strong supporter of former Prime Minister John Goodwin in the leadership convention held as a result of backbench MP Marcus Smallegan's decision to challenge Goodwin. After the election of Smallegan to the leadership, Barnes joined six other MPs and sat in the House as an independent MP. The group of MPs would take on the Ibaglian Democratic Union moniker.

Election 2006

In December 2005, Parliament was dissolved as a result of the prorogation scandal, and an election was called for mid-January 2006. Barnes was highly visible during the campaign, and led the criticism against the 'Cooky Tax' policy of the Conservative Party. The Conservatives won a plurality of seats in the House.

Shortly after the election, the Conservative Party entered into a coalition with the Independent-IDU MPs, called the Conservative Alliance, with Smallegan being appointed Prime Minister. Barnes was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs shortly thereafter.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Days after being sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he went to Liberia to lead a delegation to the inauguration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female elected head of state in Africa.

Several weeks after his appointment, Barnes resigned his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs for unknown reasons. It was speculated in the press that Barnes often had severe disagreements with Smallegan and the Conservative leadership. As a backbencher, he remained a prominent force in the Party and the Alliance. The Smallegan government fell on the Speech From the Throne in February 2006 and became the Loyal Opposition. The Conservative Alliance was dissolved on 4 May 2006.

Political Beliefs

Political Ideology: Barnes describes himself as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate.

Business: Barnes has always been known for his belief in the goodness of both large corporations and small businesses and has supported and introduced many bills in Parliament giving relief to both. Most have been rejected by the House.

Gun Ownership: Barnes believes in a person's right to own a gun and has introduced legislation making gun ownership legal. However, Barnes supports the outlawing of certain types of firearms.

Same-Sex Marriage: Although known as being against same-sex marriage, Barnes opposes any legislation that defines marriage being between a man and a woman. Barnes believes that 'no government has the right to say what is love and what is not.'

Abortion: Barnes is against abortion but like same-sex marriage, Barnes believes that the government should not get into one's personal life. Instead, he believes the government 'should work on preventing abortion.'

The Senate: Barnes strongly opposes the Senate and has introduced legislation that would abolish the Senate. The legislation was rejected.

Military: Being a career military officer, Barnes supports all legislation for the advancement of the military of Ibagli.

Economic Policies: Barnes believes that under the Liberal government, Ibagli's economy has taken a downturn and believes that the Liberal Party does not seem to care anymore. Barnes has proposed tax cuts and tax incentives for companies that keep jobs in Ibagli.

Welfare: Barnes strongly opposes welfare because he believes "it's being abused". Barnes also strongly opposes socialized healthcare which was enacted by then-Health Minister Steven Spell, and is in favor of a personal or an employer based system of insurance, supplemented by Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor.

Affirmative Action: Barnes very strongly opposes affirmative action.

Quotes

'I need to get a more precise definition.'

Barnes asking Green Party MP Steven Lyall to define civil rights after he said same-sex marriage was a civil rights issue in 2004.

'In Ibagli, anyone can run and be elected to Parliament. Thats just one of the risks we have to take'

Barnes' acceptance speech in 2006 after being reelected to Parliament.

'We're the party that wants to see an Ibagli where people can still get rich.'

Barnes at the 2006 Conservative Conference.

'How is your mother these days?'

Barnes responding to a caller on his radio show "The Erik Barnes Program" after the caller told Barnes that 'This is not a Liberal or Conservative issue but you have sold your soul to the devil! I respect a crack addict mother of five more than you!'

'The Green Party is like the "Village Slut" of political parties; always in bed with other parties. It's disgusting'

Barnes speaking on his radio show about the coalition of the Green Party and the Liberal Party to form a government.

Trivia

Barnes was the first twin to be elected to Parliament.
Barnes is a Roman Catholic.

Honours

Royal Ibaglian Order (military) - Knight Grand Companion (1999) (Knight Companion in 1992; Companion in 1989; Officer in 1986)
Royal Ibaglian Order (civil) - Companion (2006)
Distinguished Service Order (1971)
Military Cross (1970)
Lord of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (2007)
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)
Semicentennial Medal (2005)
Ibaglian Forces Decoration (2006)

Shorthand Titles

Erik Barnes (1947–1968)
Officer Cadet Erik Barnes (1968–1969)
Second Lieutenant Erik Barnes (1969–1972)
Second Lieutenant Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1972–1973)
Lieutenant Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1973)
Captain Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1973–1974)
Major Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1974–1977)
Lieutenant-Colonel Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1977–1979)
Brigadier Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1979–1983)
Major-General Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1983–1985)
Lieutenant-General Erik Barnes, DSO, MC (1985–1986)
Lieutenant-General Erik Barnes, ORI, DSO, MC (1986–1988)
General Erik Barnes, ORI, DSO, MC (1988–1989)
General Erik Barnes, CRI, DSO, MC (1989–1 November 1992)
Field Marshal Erik Barnes, CRI, DSO, MC (1 November 1992–1 January 1993)
Field Marshal Sir Erik Barnes, KCRI, DSO, MC (1 January 1993–13 June 1999)
Field Marshal Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC (13 June 1999–12 August 2004)
Field Marshal Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC, MP (12 August 2004–15 January 2006)
Field Marshal the Honourable Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC, MP (15 January 2006–22 January 2006)
Field Marshal the Honourable Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC, ID, MP (22 January 2006–10 March 2007)
Field Marshal the Right Honourable Sir Erik Barnes, GCRI, DSO, MC, ID, MP (10 March 2007–)

Electoral Record

2004 General Election
District: Kensington-Royal Arbor-New Windsor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
****	Conservative Party	(x)Erik Barnes	1564	49.1
****	Liberal Party	John DeLaney	1302	43.6
****	Green Party	Alan Finsberg	264	8.3
****	Ibaglian Action Party	Warren Jacobs	56	1.8
Total valid votes			3186	100.0

January 2006 General Election
District: Kensington-Royal Arbor-New Windsor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
****	Independent-IDU	(x)Erik Barnes	3620	48.5
****	Liberal Party	Emily Raine	2368	31.7
****	Green Party	Alan Finsberg	1232	16.5
****	Ibaglian Action Party	Warren Jacobs	124	1.7
****	Family First Party	Kimberly Jacobs	116	1.5
Total valid votes			7460	100.0

November 2006 General Election
District: Kensington-Royal Arbor-New Windsor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
****	Conservative Party	(x)Erik Barnes	3929	49.0
****	Liberal Party	Emily Raine	2595	32.4
****	Green Party	Alan Finsberg	616	7.7
****	Social Democratic Party	Danielle Perry	492	6.1
****	Ibaglian National Action Party	Warren Jacobs	388	4.8
Total valid votes			8020	100.0