Jim Goodwin, Viscount Goodwin

The Right Honourable The Viscount Goodwin CM CCM EC
21st Prime Minister of New Ingerland
In office 15 March 2004 – 13 March 2012
Monarch	Geoffrey VII
Deputy	Kristine Dawkins
Preceded by	Bill Howlett
Succeeded by	Matthew Jones
Leader of the Opposition
In office 22 March 2000 – 6 March 2004
Preceded by	Bill Howlett
Succeeded by	Matthew Jones
Personal details
Born	(1947-12-01) 1 December 1947 Williamsdene, BEAU
Political party	National
Relations	Ray Goodwin (father)
Alma mater	Royal Military College
Profession	Soldier
Religion	Christian (Ingerian)

The Right Honourable Lieutenant Colonel James Raymond "Jim" Goodwin, Viscount Goodwin CM CCM EC (born 1 December 1947), is a National Party politician and former Prime Minister of New Ingerland. Serving from March 2004 until March 2012, Goodwin was the 22nd person to occupy this most senior of political posts in New Ingerland, having previously served as Leader of the Opposition, and as a Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Labour and National Service. A protégé of John Tudor, Goodwin was among the generation of National MHAs elected in the 1984 general election that briefly brought Phillip Corbett to power. Having lost power in the 2012 general election, Goodwin initially retied to the backbench until his elevation to the peerage in late 2013.

The Goodwin Government was one of the most successful governments of the modern era, and introduced a number of reforms that have allowed for strong economic growth. In domestic affairs, successful fiscal polices led the nation out the disastrous recession of the early 2000s. Goodwin introduced many workplace reforms, several crown corporations were privatised, and government spending was slashing to pay down the debt inherited from the previous government.

Early life

James Raymond Goodwin was born in Williamsdene, Beaufortshire on the 1 December 1947. The youngest of four children of Ray and Cynthia Goodwin (née Lamb). Goodwin's father was a former commercial property developer turned politician, who served as Minister of State in the Kettering and Hendon governments, whilst his mother was a registered nurse. The Goodwin family had come from northern Ingerland in the late nineteenth century, and by the time of Goodwin's birth, had lived in New Ingerland for several generations. The family was proud of its roots, and much of the family memorabilia had a distinctly northern theme.

At school, Goodwin was a gifted student from an early age who always had a fondness for reading and writing. Having scored well in the Secondary Schools Admission Exam, Goodwin was accepted to study at Rosenham Agricultural College commencing fourth form in 1961. By the time he attended Rosenham, he was also a star in cricket, where he was a decent batsman and slow-medium pace bowler; and in Australian rules football, where he usually played as a midfielder. Academically, Goodwin excelled in his studies, and received three A's and two B's in his Advanced Certificate of Education.

Upon his matriculation from Rosenham in 1966, Goodwin opted to follow the path of his father into real estate and property development. However, a downturn in the New Ingerland property market struck in the late 1960s, and both father and son found themselves out of work by the end of 1970.

Military career

In 1970, Goodwin decided on a change of career in to the New Ingerland Defence Force, and with the guidance of a careers advisor, opted to join the New Ingerland Army as an Officer Cadet. Having been accepted in the admissions test, Goodwin commenced his studies at the Royal Military College at Eddleton in January 1971. With his passing-out parade in July 1972, Goodwin received his commission of second lieutenant, and was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal New Ingerland Regiment.

Titles, styles, honours, and arms

Honours

	Companion of the Order of Merit	2013 Foundation Day Honours
	Conspicuous Conduct Medal
	General Service Medal for New Ingerland	with clasp
File:King Geoffrey VII Coronation Medal.png	King Geoffrey VII Coronation Medal
	Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct	for 15 years of service
	Assembly of Nations Medal	for service with the Assembly of Nations Military Observer Group

Other links

Parliament of New Ingerland
Preceded by ...	MHA for Badminton 1986-2013	Succeeded by ...
Political offices
Preceded by Alex Fendalton	Deputy Prime Minister of New Ingerland 1992 - 2000	Succeeded by Graheme Sisson
	Vice-President of the Executive Council 1992 - 2000
	Leader of the House of Assembly 1992 - 2000
Preceded by Bill Howlett	Leader of the Opposition 2000 – 2004	Succeeded by Matthew Jones
	Prime Minister of New Ingerland 2004 – 2012
Party political offices
Preceded by John Tudor	Leader of the National Party 2000 – 2012	Succeeded by Kristine Dawkins