Over the last two weeks I've been on a bit of a journey. As Dear Constant Readers will know, I've always been a royalist (the main reason for that is laid out here). However, as Her Majesty has been brought into political events by our Prime Minister-Gone-Rogue, I've come to the conclusion she doesn't have the capacity to defend us against political events and we need our head of state to be the backstop (sorry) to our system to ensure that, in the worst case scenario, we have someone able to say "No more!".
Anyway... today's ruling by the Court of Session that Boris Johnson may have misled Her Majesty as to the reasons why he wanted to prorogue Parliament (the case heads to the Supreme Court next week) leaves in stark relief the fact that this country's supposed loyalty to the monarchy is barely at lip service level.
Look at any social media and you'll find Brexiteers. They are up in arms about the decision. Some of the crazier types are calling for "us" to "ditch Scotland". Just think about it for a second. Her Majesty is currently at her Balmoral residence in Scotland. She has a fairly well-known love for Scotland. She swore an oath to serve as monarch for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you truly loved the Queen, would you ever say such words? I think not.
And, when push comes to shove, any suggestion that Her Majesty has been lied to should send waves of revulsion and anger through any true royalist. They'd want to get to the bottom of it and would certainly treat anyone accused of such a thing with a reasonable amount of suspicion. Look, however, at social media and you'll find plenty of people who'd describe themselves as patriots lining up to declare their wholehearted support to Boris Johnson in this matter.
It seems very, very clear that no matter what the polls might say about public support for Her Majesty, it isn't very deep support and pretty much any other political desire (it may be Brexit here but it could be anything) will trump loyalty to her.
The proof will be in the political polls. If support for the Conservatives doesn't drop significantly over the coming week, then there will be your proof that nobody really, not deep in their hearts, cares for the monarchy any more.
Don't, of course, get me started on Nigel Farage. I've still not forgiven him for rating Putin more highly than Her Majesty as a world leader. He probably didn't even think about her when deciding on that which, again, underlines that these "patriots" aren't all that patriotic!
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Sunday, 31 March 2019
What Do We Want? Representatives That Represent Us! #PRNow
Brexit is an absolute mess. However, this won't be a post demanding any particular solution to that now grave crisis. It is a post dedicated to what is clearly, after the last 3 years, a pressing need to help make our political culture healthier and more responsive.
The paralysis in Parliament right now comes not just because no one has an idea of the way forward. It is also because attempting to balance the, sometimes contradictory, beliefs of different important groups within each party means there's no way to make a decision that pleases anyone. A compromise might cause a split in your party or bring down your Government.
These parties, filled with their warring interest groups, still don't manage to represent the electorate. Votes are wasted as an MP could easily be elected with less than 40% of the vote (i.e. 60% of those turning out to vote, let alone of the electorate as a whole, voted AGAINST them and they still won). Governments can get large majorities and do all sorts of crazy things (like introducing an ill-conceived referendum without considering what needed to be done if a particular side won) despite the majority of people in this country having voted for someone else.
MPs stand on manifestos they don't believe in. Deals are done behind closed doors with very little understanding of what might have been traded to win support for whatever legislation or policy was up for debate.
What we need is proportional representation. We need to ensure more votes matter. We need to ensure MPs can stand on manifestos they actually believe in. We need to break up the not-fit-for-purpose "umbrella" parties and get parties that actually reflect the diverse opinions of our electorate. We need political parties that will know they won't win a majority and be upfront with the electorate about what they will and what they won't compromise on so we all know what we are getting into before the trouble starts.
So sign the petition calling for a fairer voting system. Use your anger righteously and lets finally start digging this country out of the big hole it has gotten itself into.
The paralysis in Parliament right now comes not just because no one has an idea of the way forward. It is also because attempting to balance the, sometimes contradictory, beliefs of different important groups within each party means there's no way to make a decision that pleases anyone. A compromise might cause a split in your party or bring down your Government.
These parties, filled with their warring interest groups, still don't manage to represent the electorate. Votes are wasted as an MP could easily be elected with less than 40% of the vote (i.e. 60% of those turning out to vote, let alone of the electorate as a whole, voted AGAINST them and they still won). Governments can get large majorities and do all sorts of crazy things (like introducing an ill-conceived referendum without considering what needed to be done if a particular side won) despite the majority of people in this country having voted for someone else.
MPs stand on manifestos they don't believe in. Deals are done behind closed doors with very little understanding of what might have been traded to win support for whatever legislation or policy was up for debate.
What we need is proportional representation. We need to ensure more votes matter. We need to ensure MPs can stand on manifestos they actually believe in. We need to break up the not-fit-for-purpose "umbrella" parties and get parties that actually reflect the diverse opinions of our electorate. We need political parties that will know they won't win a majority and be upfront with the electorate about what they will and what they won't compromise on so we all know what we are getting into before the trouble starts.
So sign the petition calling for a fairer voting system. Use your anger righteously and lets finally start digging this country out of the big hole it has gotten itself into.
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