The Queen or not...
From early on in my life I remember family conversations (arguments) about the monarchy. My family is a long line of socialists - my Grandfather was a pioneer in the trade union movement in the 1920s and in the 30s he was a member of the Labour and Co-Operative parties. He was a local councillor and if he'd not died in 1944 probably stood for parliament in the post war election. Although I never met him - he was anti monarchy so was my little old Nan. She used to argue with my Dad about it - my Dad was a monarchist (although still at heart a socialist).
My Mum was a staunch anti-royalist. My wife has been a member of the UK Republican movement for as long as I've known here. She refuses to sing the national anthem. For many many years I was like her a staunch republican arguing for the abolition of the monarchy.
However over the years my views changed.
I actually like the odd unwritten UK constitution in that we don't have an executive. As has been proven recently in our (soon to be dismantled) supreme court parliament is sovereign. The people's elected representatives are the power in the land. There is no executive esp there is no executive in one person. An act of parliament (note act of PARLIAMENT) will only be signed into law by the monarch if it has passed a majority vote in the House of Commons. The PM can't over rule that or ask her to sign something parliament won't agree to.
I like that and I like that the PM has to every Tuesday afternoon go and see the Queen and explain the activity of government that week. And it is her who has the ultimate power. She could refuse to sign something into law - but she won't but it shows the PM they are just a servant of the UK not the other way round - I hope it deflates the egos of those who get into number 10.
I don't want to replace her now with some elected executive who can issue orders at a whim. Or just a figure head of state who doesn't have any responsibility / power.
So... I now sing God save the queen - much to the displeasure of my republican wife.😂
My Mum was a staunch anti-royalist. My wife has been a member of the UK Republican movement for as long as I've known here. She refuses to sing the national anthem. For many many years I was like her a staunch republican arguing for the abolition of the monarchy.
However over the years my views changed.
I actually like the odd unwritten UK constitution in that we don't have an executive. As has been proven recently in our (soon to be dismantled) supreme court parliament is sovereign. The people's elected representatives are the power in the land. There is no executive esp there is no executive in one person. An act of parliament (note act of PARLIAMENT) will only be signed into law by the monarch if it has passed a majority vote in the House of Commons. The PM can't over rule that or ask her to sign something parliament won't agree to.
I like that and I like that the PM has to every Tuesday afternoon go and see the Queen and explain the activity of government that week. And it is her who has the ultimate power. She could refuse to sign something into law - but she won't but it shows the PM they are just a servant of the UK not the other way round - I hope it deflates the egos of those who get into number 10.
I don't want to replace her now with some elected executive who can issue orders at a whim. Or just a figure head of state who doesn't have any responsibility / power.
So... I now sing God save the queen - much to the displeasure of my republican wife.😂
