Pardon?
Posted on Jul 18 2007 | Tagged as: Politics
In response to a republican-themed e-petition on Downing Street’s petitions website, a half-arsed attempt to simultaneously appear to care what We The People think and look tech-savvy and trendy, some spokesman or other has written the following:
The Monarchy is a vital element of our constitution, and personifies both national and commonwealth unity. As a result of a long process of evolution, during which the Monarch’s absolute power has been progressively reduced, The Sovereign acts on the advice of Her Ministers. Britain is governed by Her Majesty’s government in the name of The Queen.
The Government fully supports the Monarchy and the continuation of the Crown.
Well they would, wouldn’t they? When pretty much all of the powers of the Crown have been transferred to the Prime Minister.1
And “vital”? Hardly. A common response to overtures for a British Republic is: “Well would you prefer a President Blair?” Yes. Yes I would. And I write as one who loathes our recently departed head of government and much of the work he’s done over the last decade. Because a President Blair, if He came with a proper separation of powers, would be relatively impotent; certainly he wouldn’t have got away with passing a string of reactionary laws.
And in any case, what the Government thinks of the Monarchy is irrelevant: upon the Queen’s death we should be given a say, via referendum, on its future. The fact that they seem to be able to decide on such matters without even thinking of consulting us is precisely the reason why it should go.
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1 I don’t believe for a second Brown’s claims of handing back power. “Look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent under’t”, Lady Macbeth said…
