As I recall the Prime Minister in the TV series was rather more a man of the people than the real leaders of the British left tended to be. More a dangerous lefty council leader, like David Blunkett of the Peoples Republic of South Yorkshire (I wonder what happened to him and how he turned into the right of sensible, fun loving national politician we all loathe), than the national figurehead of the left Tony Benn.
It is absurd that we still have US forces based in Europe, fifteen years after the fall of the Evil Empire. It is almost as absurd as still having British forces based in Germany. They serve no apparent purpose and a rational foreign and defence policy would perhaps send everyone home.
Another thought is that we should follow the example of Nepal and strip the monarchy of its political functions as well as transferring command in chief of the (no longer Royal) armed forces to the Prime Minister.
Yikes, I know that Tony rules in loco regina, but I'd really rather not make it official. keep to the Fen Causeway
Most people in Britain would prefer Queen Elizabeth to have the power rather than a politician. But what do you do if a monarch, like King Gyanendra of Nepal, decides that the politicians are so useless that a spell of absolute monarchy is in order?
As I understand it one of the issues A Very British Coup explored was the way the monarchical structure of the state might constrain a government trying to act in ways disapproved of by elite groups. In effect the Westminster model of responsible government is a house of mirrors. The person who in theory is merely the monarch's adviser in fact controls the situation, but this rests upon non-legally enforceable conventions not a proper codified constitution.
Thought at first Helen might be writng about Morkie Thatcher's recent foray in Africa. "When the abyss stares at me, it wets its pants." Brian Hopkins
Plus I doubt I could write about that poisonous little toad without saying something very bad indeed. keep to the Fen Causeway
