Electing a Head of State an affront to Democracy

I have been thinking a bit more about the Monarch and its relationship with the people as head of state in the shadow of Charles, the Prince of Wales’ 60th Birthday. I have written before that I am an ideological republican although I realise the value and the practicality of the Monarchy to the United Kingdom.

However, I think I may have changed my mind. And yes, I am allowed to do so. The argument that really changed my mind was the fact that the Monarchy is actually democratic. I can hear you shrieking, but it’s true. Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth the Second of the United Kingdom is in fact unelected democratically. To start, that might seem like a contradiction in terms. But the fact of the matter is that the only reason that we still have a Queen is because the majority supports her. If there was a strong feeling among a majority that wanted the removal of the archaic but historic Monarchy, then Parliament would have passed an act calling for a referendum by now.

On Jonathan Dimbleby’s admission that Charles plans to be a more ‘hands-on’ Head of State than his mother may nor may not be a good thing. I’m afraid that I can’t quite gauge what kind of reaction that might herald.

Also, Iain Dale predicts that Gordon Brown might call a general election for early 2009. I am inclined to agree with him but for slightly different reasons.

LCO-gate

It seems that the National Assembly have been dealt a great blow in the fight for further powers. Not only do Welsh Labour and Conservative MPs on the Welsh Affairs Committee want to restrict or deny further powers to the Welsh Assembly, they are dictating how they should use the powers in the present and future. This amounts in practice to the WAC being Wales' second legislative chamber.

I really believe that Rhodri Morgan and the rest of the Labour memebers of Cabinet could have gone to town on this one. It would have been a great display of Labour's belief in Wales. The sooner Rhodri is now replaced, the better. Whether you agree with WAC or not (for the record I don't), you have to draw two conclusions for this debacle.

ONE
That Welsh Labour AMs don't have equal status as the MPs within the party. With Labour the dominant party in Welsh politics and most likely to be in the foreseeable future, it sets a dangerous precedent. Although people can take comfort in an upcoming generation of devoloving Labourites.

TWO
The complete inability of Ieuan Wyn Jones and other PC cabinet members to influence the First Minister. It displays a real weakness on their part and will only isolate their nationalistic supporters further. Maybe it's time for Leanne Wood to do a stint as Deputy First Minister. That would shake things up a bit. I was really hoping back in 2007 that Plaid involvment would help speed up devolution.

Will the coalition last? With the Tories in such disarray, I don't see any other option. It has to stick together. Although, maybe under a new Liberal Democrat leader there might be a change.

Obama Victory Speech