The republican and monarchist cases are both rubbish. Abolishing the monarchy would not make Britain less class-bound or less corrupt, unless we were to aspire to the classless cleanliness of Ireland, France, Germany, Italy or the United States.
And the monarchy itself does not guarantee stability or liberty in a country that had three General Elections in the four years from 2015, that had three Prime Ministers in the three years from 2016, and that is already blessed with the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act and with the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Act, soon to be joined by the Nationality and Borders Bill, by the Elections Bill, by the Online Safety Bill, and by the staggering Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Are the liberties of the Canadian truckers being guaranteed by the Crown? On the contrary, it is precisely the Crown that empowers Justin Trudeau.
But the monarchy is what we already have. Merely keeping it would not involve spending legislative time on something that in any case would not make matters any better. As for the Royal Prerogative, we should be seeking, not to abolish it, but to exercise it.
This all made me think, but especially the last line.
ReplyDeleteThank you. The purpose of politics is to acquire and exercise power.
Delete