List of Prime Ministers of Rainier

The Prime Minister of Rainier is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Rainier as the chairman of the Cabinet of Rainier, the executive government of Rainier. The Prime Minister by convention is appointed with the confidence of the House of Councillors and is officially given the post by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister has almost always been a member of the House of Councillors as the leader of the largest party, although a few have been members of the House of Senators.

Traditionally the Prime Minister's term in office was counted upon their official resignation to the Governor-General. However since 1915 the Prime Minister's final day in office has been counted on the day the succeeding ministry to their's was sworn in.

There has been 24 Rainian prime ministers. The longest serving prime minister was Austin Alexander Duncan who served from 1892 to 1907. The shortest serving prime minister was John Spencer for an eleven-month period from 1969-1970.

Key

  Conservative Party

  Liberal Party

  Progressive Party

  National Union Party

  Labour Party

List

No.	Name	Took office	Left office	Elected	Political Party	Home state
1	Charles Rochester 1824-1901	12th March 1872	30th September 1880	1872, 1875	Conservative Party	British Columbia
		First Prime Minister following federation, winning the 1875 election for the Tories. Rochester's government was staunchly pro-British, protectionist and interventionist in economic affairs. Winning the 1875 election, in 1877 Rochester's government signed into law the Fiscal Responsibility Act which transferred debts taken by the federal government to provincial ones; this was received negatively in several states and led to the defeat of the government in the 1880 election.
2	Alfred Henry Lawson 1825-1892	30th September 1880	4th March 1884	1880	Liberal Party	Oregon
		The former governor of Oregon, Lawson's government repealed the Fiscal Responsibility Act replacing it with the Provincial Act which led to a sharing of debt amongst provinces. Lawson's government was regarded as being decentralising passing significant responsibility to the provinces and reducing federal government intervention in the economy. However his inability to deal with the Long Depression meant the Liberals lost the 1884 election.
3	Stuart Mackenzie 1824–1906	4th March 1884	12th November 1892	1884, 1889	Conservative Party	British Columbia
		Mackenzie led the Tories to victory on a pro-tariff platform particularly opposing Americanisation and promoting a renewed partnership with the United Kingdom. Hoping that his tariff programme would alleviate the Long Depression the economy in fact worsened under his term. The government also launched the Pacific Railway project which attracted controversy due to the use of imported Chinese labour. Mackenzie won the 1889 election on a reduced majority, but infighting within the Tory caucus meant he called a snap election to secure a majority - this backfired with the Tories being soundly defeated by the Liberals.
4	A. A. Duncan 1824-1901	12th November 1892	5th October 1907	1892, 1896, 1899, 1904	Liberal Party	Cascadia
		A liberal radical, Duncan's term as Prime Minister was marked by four successive majority governments in the 1892, 1896, 1899 and 1904 elections. His government saw the introduction of the Continental Policy which introduced a series of free trade measures and tariff reductions as well as introduce more worker rights in legalisation such as the Factory Act 1894 which banned child labour. Under Duncan the government passed the Oriental Exclusion Act 1906 which banned Chinese and Japanese immigration. Duncan retired in 1907 due to ill health.
5	Samuel Batstone 1862-1909	24th October 1907	3rd June 1911	1908	Liberal Party	Oregon
		The Batstone government championed progressive policies and economical reform decreasing tariffs which provoked opposition from farmers'. His government also attempted to address the "vested interests of corruption" targeting political machines but faced opposition from big business. In 1909 Batsonte died of dysentery, being succeeded by his Treasurer Ramsey Johnston.
6	Ramsey Johnston 1845-1916	3rd June 1911	26th October 1913	1912	Liberal Party	Cascadia
		A progressive Johnston implemented various reforms such as shortening parliamentary terms from five to three terms, implementing antitrust laws against monopolies, target local Tory political machines and support prohibition laws on a provincial level. Johnston however clashed regularly with trade unions alienating him from the left-wing of his party.
	R. H. Wallace 1856-1934	26th October 1913	17th November 1921	1915, 1918	Liberal Party ↓ National Union Party	Cascadia
9
		Wallace became prime minister in 1913. The government declared war on Germany in 1914 with Wallace implementing conscription as well as rationing as a preemptive measure against the possibility of war in the America's. During the war the liberals and conservatives merging into "National Union". Wallace represented Rainier at the Paris Peace Conference, attempting to reach a compromise surrounding the Racial Equality Proposal in contrast to other British dominion leaders. However his government was embroiled in the Northern Lakes mining scandal in 1920 leading to the defeat of the government at the election the next year.
8	Malcolm Russell 1882-1948	17th November 1921	7th October 1930	1921, 1924, 1927	Progressive Party	Idaho
		Russell formed a minority government with confidence and supply from independent MP's in 1921. Known as a progressive leader, Russell promoted reforms such as universal suffrage, the introduction of pensions and a system of free trade. A strong isolationist Russell refused to send Rainian troops to Turkey during the Chanak crisis. In 1929 his government was faced with the Great Depression with Russell - a committed practitioner in laissez-faire economics - doing little to intervene to reduce unemployment. The Liberals suffered a landslide defeat at the 1930 election.
9	Campbell Radcliffe 1877-1946	7th October 1930	8th November 1936	1930, 1933	National Union Party	British Columbia
		Radcliffe continued largely restricted economic policies whilst setting up small funds for the unemployed and rural workers'. Whilst his charisma and commitment to an "economic recovery administration" saw him initially seen as a fairly popular figure his failure to convince his party to adopt his interventionist policies led to the Tories to lose their majority at the 1937 election.
10	Edward C. Osborne 1873-1950	8th November 1936	12th February 1949	1936, 1939, 1942, 1945, 1948	Progressive Party	Oregon
		Osborne became Prime Minister as a result of the Great Depression. Osborne implemented a Keynesian economic programme intervening to reduce unemployment, nationalising failing businesses and spending money to restart the economy. Osborne also expanded the welfare state. As a result of these policies the economy recovered enabling Osborne to win several successive general elections. In 1939 following the outbreak of World War Two he supported Britain's declaration of war against Nazi Germany and later against Japan. In 1949 Osborne died in office of a heart attack.
11	Robin Matthews 1914-2007	12th February 1949	2nd August 1958	1951, 1954, 1957	Progressive Party	Idaho
		A former Methodist minister, Matthews continued the welfare reforms of Osborne as well as championing a more independent Rainian identity such as changing the national anthem and renaming the country the Commonwealth of Rainier. These moves alienated the conservative wing the Progressive based around BC premier W. A. C. Bennett, leading to constant infighting despite post-war economic prosperity and successful relations with the Commonwealth. In 1957 the Progressive Party lost their majority resulting in Matthews to form a minority government with Labour - this resulted in the BC Socreds to vote against the government and call a snap election which saw Matthew's defeated.
12	Edward Henderson 1892-1978	2nd August 1958	21st April 1965	1958, 1961, 1964	National Union Party	Cascadia
		The second Prime Minister from the National Union Party. Henderson's government oversaw a period of unprecedented economic growth through Keynesian economics, demand management and price and wage controls largely retaining the mixed economy created by the Progressive Party. The Henderson government launched a national infrastructure programme and developed the Rainian oil sector resulting in the modernisation of Rainier whilst also ending conscription and embarking on a large house building programme. The Henderson government also oversaw an anti-communist, pro-western foreign policy supporting the Vietnam War whilst asserting Rainier as a middle power. He retired in 1965.
13	Albert W. Moore 1917-1984	21st April 1965	30th June 1969	1967	National Union Party	Cascadia
		A long serving finance minister, Moore became prime minister as a compromise candidate amongst Tory factions. Considered an effective administrator but a dull public speaker, Moore faced an economic slowdown as the prosperous post-war years came to an end. Moore responded with the decision to devalue the Rainian pound and take it off the peg with its British counterpart - this reduced the government's popularity leading to Moore's ouster.
14	John Spencer 1909-1984	30th June 1969	17th May 1970	-	National Union Party	Oregon
		Coming to power after Moore was ousted Spencer faced constant infighting within his caucus. The Spencer government passed the Rainian Bill of Rights in 1969 and in response to economic difficulties attempted to deregulate the oil and transport industry but was unsuccessful in his efforts. Spencer lost the 1970 election to the Labour party as a result.
15	Lester Murray 1918-1975	17th May 1970	30th April 1973	1970	Labour Party	Idaho
		First Prime Minister from the Labour party. Murray's government presided over several landmark progressive legalisation, including the abolition of capital punishment, the withdrawal of relations from South Africa, the introduction of the Health Assistance Programme, recognising the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China and withdrawing troops from Vietnam. However a sharp downturn in economic fortunes meant Labour lost the 1973 election.
16	Joseph Clarkson 1935-	30th April 1973	12th May 1982	1973, 1976, 1979	National Union Party	Cascadia
		Achieved a majority at the 1973 election. Clarkson used Keynesian stimulus to deal with stagflation as well as launching the National Energy Plan that attempted to make Rainier self-sufficient for energy needs. In the 1979 election Clarkson formed a coalition with the Progressive Party. However following cuts to rural subsidies his coalition partner left his government leading Clarkson to lose a vote of confidence in 1981 in the House of Councillors but finished the government's term after the House of Senators voted down the confidence vote.
17	Nicholas Lennox 1930-	12th May 1982	13th April 1985	1982	Labour Party	Cascadia
		Elected in 1982 due to economic and political stagnation, Lennox attempted a broad programme of economic stimulus to restart the economy. Legalised homosexuality and abortion. At the 1985 election Labour emerged the largest party but lost its majority, with Lennox losing the premiership after failing to secure the confidence of the House of Councillors.
18	Michael Chamieh 1922-2013	13th April 1985	13th September 1987	1985	National Union Party	Oregon
		Formed a minority government with support from the Progressive party. Chamieh begun an economic policy of neoliberal reform with monetarist policies designed to curb inflation. His 1987 Autumn Budget however was rejected by his coalition partners and losing the confidence of parliament was forced to call snap elections.
(17)	Nicholas Lennox 1930-	13th September 1987	28th August 1990	1987	Labour Party	Cascadia
		Returning to office in 1987 at the head of a majority government. The Lennox government continued economic reforms including the liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation of much of the economy turning Rainier from a corporatist to free market economy, the introduction of free university education, strengthening trade unions and expanding welfare. Under his term there were trade disputes with Japan. In his second term Lennox failed to revive popularity for the Labour party amid economic recession and was defeated at the 1990 election.
19	Don Barber 1938-2016	28th August 1990	16th September 1996	1990, 1993	National Union Party	Oregon
		Led the Unionists to a large majority in the 1990 and a reduced majority in the 1996 elections. Barber's government pursued welfare and trade union reform whilst also supporting a neoconservative foreign policy heavily supporting NAFTA. Controversial changes to employment laws led to a decline in his popularity and a corruption scandal in 1996 led to the NUP to suffer a severe defeat in the 1996 election.
20	Ken Huang 1950-	16th September 1996	22nd June 2004	1996, 1999, 2002	Labour Party	Cascadia
		The first Prime Minister of Chinese descent forming two majority governments. Huang supported socially liberal policies approving of civil unions for LGBT couples and passing the Fair Wage Act, the first federal legislation ensuring equal gender pay. Huang also privatised religious schools. His government was considered a practitioner of "third way" policies balancing the federal budget for the first time since the 1960's. He also opposed the Iraq War. Huang was ousted as party leader due to inter-party disunity between himself and the Treasurer Gerald Ruben after Labour's polling declined during the summer of 2004.
21	Gerald Ruben 1944-	22nd June 2004	3rd October 2008	2005	Labour Party	Oregon
		Formed a government with the Green-Left Movement following the 2005 elections. Ruben promoted first nations rights. His government however continued fiscally conservative policies. In response to the 2008 financial crisis Ruben implemented a stimulus package which stemmed the recession; this however raised the deficit and led to Labour to be defeated in the 2008 election.
22	Jennifer Redford 1964-	3rd October 2008	27th June 2013	2008, 2011	National Union Party	Alaska
		The second female prime minister. Redford was considered part of the Christian right and promoted religious education whilst also implementing tax cuts, privatising sections of the health sector and liberalising restrictions on gun ownership. During the 2008 financial crisis Redford used economic stimulus from oil revenue to keep the economy afloat. Her right-wing populist style were increasingly seen as damaging support for the government which was slashed to a majority of two at the 2011 election and in 2013 was ousted by Andrew Clarkson.
23	Andrew Clarkson 1960-	27th June 2013	10th September 2017	2014	National Union Party	Cascadia
		Formed a majority government following the 2014 election. In his term his government sought to address the large deficit by pursuing austerity policies cutting government expenditure whilst also pursuing a neoconservative foreign policy. The "cash-for-votes" scandal led to a decline in support and the government's defeat at the 2017 election.
24	Alexander Llewellyn 1964-	10th September 2017	Incumbent	2017, 2020	Labour Party	Cascadia
		Formed a majority government following the 2017 election. In his first term Llewellyn pursued pro-environmental policies such as the introduction of a federal carbon tax. His government has led Rainier through the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020 Labour were re-elected with a minority government.