Saint Albans

The United Kingdom of Saint Albans & Santen commonly known as Saint Albans, The Union or more recently the United Kingdom, is a sovereign state located in the north-western quadrant of the Coalition of Democratic Nations. The country includes the Islands of the Albanum Archipelago and the Coastline of Continental Aurora.

The United Kingdom's form of government is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Its capital city is Williamsburgh. The current Albanese monarch - since 22 June 2011 - is William IV. The Union consists of four nations; the two Kingdoms of Saint Alban and Santen, and the Duchies of Verulam and Sarumnia. The latter three have devolved administrations (The Parliament of Santen, The Verulam Council and the Sarumite Assembly, respectively) each with varying powers, based in their respective capital cities (Saintes, Zetel and New Sarum)

The majority of Albanese citizens are comparitively well educated, and liberalism has deep routes in many aspects of society. A very high tax rate or 70% funds an extensive social-welfare programme, though recent governments have made active attempts to reduce both the extent of this welfare system and also the high tax rate, with the current government having committed to reduce tax levels to around 50% with an eventual goal of reducing this further to around 35%.

The climate across the Union is a temperate coastal one, with mild winters contrasted with warmer summers, though over the past 20-30 years, extremities are becoming a trend, with recurring harsh and bitterly cold winters contrasted with hotter but wetter summers. Average winter temperatures are in the -5 > 5 degree range, while summers tend to average at between 25 > 30 degrees.

Saint Albans is an industrialised country and has one of the biggest economies in the world. A thriving manufacturing industry once powered this economy, but beginning in the 1960's, this trade began to decline. Serious government-led investment in the 1990's stopped this decline and remaining industry has since thrived, with shipbuilding now the pre-eminent export. Saint Albans also has a large service industry, and this has now become the primary economic output - Williamsburgh is one of the worlds foremost financial centres. Tourism is the third biggest contributor to the economy, and the United Kingdom has several WAPHSIes(World Assembly Place of Historical or Special Interest)

Saint Albans is a multi-cultural and mixed society. A wave of Santenese immigrants into Saint Albans immediately following the beginning of the Personal Union of the Crowns of St Albans and Santen led to increasing numbers of external immigrants in Santen. Around 87% of Union residents are ethnic Albanese, Santenese, Verulamese(Verulami) or Sarumese(Sarumites) and 91% of these are Caucasian.