A short summary of the year ahead by the Observer.
It would be nice to follow Antony Newley’s ‘Stop the World I want to get off’
But that’s not in our gift.
We all have to do what we can to work towards a more democratic and tolerant world.
December 28, 2019
The Observer View
December 25, 2019
The Trail of Charles 1
A three-part series on BBC 4 on the Trial of Charles 1.
The Trial comes to a climax on the decision as to whether Charles 1 raised an army and a bloody civil war against the people of the UK (well mainly England) and against his oath on his Coronation to protect the people.
He is found guilty, as we know, by what were in effect a chosen selection of the Proletarians. Charles 1 had ignored the will of Parliament and had ultimately gone to War to prove that he was King by Divine Right and was therefore omnipotent.
Charles was ultimately defeated by Cromwell and Fairfax, captured and had to be put on trial – the series makes no attempt to show that the trial was a show trial; rather it makes the case that the King is Not Above the Law and as such it set the precedent for the numerous examples across the World since. We shall see whether, as claimed by the lawyers interviewed, the Trail affected UK Parliamentary Democracy ever since. A bold claim and one that looks dubious in the light of the recent UK Election where the Executive has assumed the mantle of the Devine Right of Kings .
As at 25th December the Series is still available on BBC4
December 20, 2019
The Dictator’s first move
John Crace
‘Brexit was done. Even if it wasn’t. And anyone who dared whisper the word Brexit again after 31 January would be arrested for thought crimes. Boris had hoped he would feel more elated than this, but instead he could only feel disappointment closing in. He had gained the world, but had long since lost both his family and his soul. His narcissism would inevitably destroy him. In the beginning is my end. Now the light falls.’
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/20/to-johnson-the-brexit-spoils-and-the-amnesia
One might add:
‘Beware the Ides of March’
In 44 BCE, Julius Caesar’s rule in Rome was in trouble. Caesar was a demagogue, a ruler who set his own rules, frequently bypassing the Senate to do what he liked, and finding supporters in the Roman proletariat and his soldiers. The Senate made Caesar dictator for life in February of that year, but in truth, he had been the military dictator governing Rome from the field since 49. …..that the next 30 days were to be fraught with peril, but the danger would end on the Ides of March.
December 18, 2019
Enter Johnson the Dictator
Under plans made by Theresa May, the incorporation of all EU case law made by the European Court of Justice into UK law after departure would have left the supreme court as the only body able to overturn these decisions.
But asked about reports that Boris Johnson had ignored concerns from some ministers and decided to allow lower courts the same power, his spokesman confirmed that this would be part of the new withdrawal agreement bill.
September 26, 2019
Rather the UK Cabinet has no Moral Right to Sit
“This parliament is a dead parliament,” [Geoffrey Cox] said. “It should no longer sit. It has no moral right to sit on these green benches.”
Expel the Johnson (Mussolini) Dictatorship.
September 24, 2019
A Significant Victory for Democracy in the UK
I view this as a great victory of Parliament over the Executive.
‘Bring Back Control’ to Parliament, not to a cabal of Tory misfits.
Simon Jenkins in this afternoon’s Guardian
He is somewhat sanguine in his final paragraph:
‘Whether that is sustainable in an era in which parliament and MPs are held in such low regard, in which the political parties are so fragmented and partisan, and in which the electoral system that creates the sovereign parliament is so slewed in its effects, has to be in doubt. The supreme court did not just sound the trumpet over a failed prime minister. It did the same over a failed constitutional order.’
I agree. Whether the UK will now embark on a written Constitution is still a matter of conjecture.
A trouble point remains; we still have the right wing media supported by capitalists on the make.
But I came to the Bill of Rights of 1688, late. I had misaligned it with the Glorious Revolution of 1689.
In the end the Bill of Rights was crucial to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
As an aside it was before the Act of Union of 1707.
September 19, 2019
Newton and Prorogation of the UK Parliament
Isaac Newton in 1675: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”.
Equally this applies to Law as it does to Mechanics.
So much is Case Law.
But with the Prorogation of Parliament by Johnson, there is too few Cases to build on other than the Bill of Rights 1688.
I note in his closing submissions, Keen said the judges should decline to become involved. “Whether it is dissolution or prorogation [of parliament], this is forbidden territory … It is a matter between the executive and parliament.
But this is a not possible as, as Parliament is not in session, the matter cannot be resolved ‘between the executive and parliament’
He continues “The applicants and petitioners are inviting the court into forbidden territory and an ill-defined minefield that the courts are not properly equipped to deal with.”
Nevertheless, the Bill of Rights 1688 provides for:
Dispensing and Suspending Power.
By Assumeing and Exerciseing a Power of Dispensing with and Suspending of Lawes and the Execution of Lawes without Consent of Parlyament
And can we expect Johnson now to tamper with:
Violating Elections.
By Violating the Freedome of Election of Members to serve in Parlyament
The real question remains, is the Executive above or subservient to the Parliament. Is the Executive ‘The Queen in Parliament’ and, even if so, the Bill of Rights states that ‘Exercising a Power of Dispensing with and Suspending of Lawes and the Execution of Lawes without Consent of Parlyament’.
We can only wait a see what the conclusions of Supreme Court comes up with. What ever verdict is arrived at we may hope that we can be able to, as Newton says, Stand on the shoulders of Giants for the future.
BTW Bill Jameson in today’s Scotsman suggests that if the Supreme Court cannot come to an agreed verdict it could appeal to the European Court of Justice.
September 16, 2019
Johnson dictating to Juncker who won’t show ‘Flexibility’
Yesterday it was Johnson dictating to Juncker.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/15/johnson-to-defy-benn-bill-quit-31-october-come-what-may.
Today it’s EU showing ‘Flexibility’.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/sep/16/brexit-latest-news-boris-johnson-talks-juncker-eu-must-show-flexibility-says-raab-ahead-of-boris-johnsons-key-meeting-with-juncker-live-news-latest-news
Pity Number 10 can’t seek with one voice.
But then its the Tory ‘Party’
Or maybe it’s just that Johnson needs the Excuse to leave; any excuse will do and Rabb is just his man to provide it (for now).
September 10, 2019
Johnson – One Nation Conservatives – Oh Really?
Disraeli understood to establish One Nation Conservatives as:
‘Disraeli adopted one-nation conservatism for both ethical and electoral reasons. Before he became leader of the Conservative Party, the Reform Act 1867 had enfranchised the male working-class. As a result, Disraeli argued that the party needed to pursue social reforms if it were to have electoral success. He felt that one-nationism would both improve the conditions of the poor and portray the Liberal Party as selfish individualists.
While in government, Disraeli presided over a series of social reforms which supported his one-nation politics and aimed to create a benevolent hierarchy. He appointed a Royal Commission to assess the state of law between employers and employees. As a result, Richard Cross was moved to pass the Employers and Workmen Act of 1875. This act made both sides of industry equal before the law and the breach of contract became a civil offence, rather than criminal. Cross also passed the Conspiracy, and Protection of Property Act in the same year which enshrined the worker’s right to strike by ensuring that acts carried out by a workers’ group could not be indicted as conspiracy.’
“Brexit: Boris Johnson rejects claim he is making Conservative party extreme – live news”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/sep/10/anger-abounds-after-parliament-suspended-in-night-of-high-drama-politics-live#img-1
Not much similarity to me
September 6, 2019
Step forward Benito Mussolini
Step forward Benito Mussolini.
West Yorkshire police have criticised Boris Johnson for making a political speech before a backdrop of its officers, with the chief constable saying the force was assured this would not happen but that Downing Street changed plans at the last minute.
Mike Vickers' Blog 