As Tony Benn pointed out, the Royal Prerogative is the undemocratic heart of our Constitution
When I first heard that Boris Johnson was going to rule without what he considers the unnecessary interference of parliament my first thoughts were that this is what happens when I go away for a short break!
We live in interesting times and no more so for the Royal Family and the Queen. Not since the death of Princess Diana, which was at first a relief to ‘the firm’, have the Royals been in the firing line. This has not been a good week for them First there was the little local difficulty of her son Prince Andrew and his association with Jeff Epstein, a convicted paedophile and his almost certain sexual relations with girls being held in conditions of captivity and now the suspension of parliament
Her Majesty has consented to preventing Parliament meeting in order to discuss the major constitutional issue of the time. There can be no doubt that the Queen could have told Johnson to go away and secure the assent of Parliament to its own dissolution. She didn’t because clearly Johnson has no majority for such an undemocratic manoeuvre. He has been elected by the members of the Tory party only and lacks a majority in the House of Commons.
Thus we see that the Monarchy represents the undemocratic heart of our constitutional settlement and the Royal Prerogative is its instrument. It could however backfire badly on Boris for a very simple reason. Brexit no longer commands a majority amongst the British people and that is why there is such resolute opposition among the Brexiteers to a second referendum or Parliament having a vote. There is certainly no support for no deal.![]()
We saw today that there is mass anger at what has happened and it is likely to grow not diminish. Boris Johnson’s plummy public school accent and that of the 18th century caricature Rees-Mogg cannot hide the deviousness and dishonesty behind this dictatorial act.
It is right that people should besiege parliament and Downing Street and it would be right if they riot because riots are how the peoples’ will can be manifested.
Parliament, if it has the will, can easily pass legislation taking control over the legislative process, revoking Article 50, agreeing to a referendum or seeking an extension to Article 50. Where there is a will there is a way. That will mean the smaller parties falling in behind Labour including the treacherous Lib Dems, who found no difficulty sitting in the same cabinet as George Osborne and Cameron but object to Jeremy Corbyn.
Boris Johnson may have bitten off more than he can chew and the resignation of Ruth Davidson is an omen of the deep split in our ruling class.
Tony Greenstein