Thanks to hanging chads and the supreme court, the left could poke fun at the electoral credibility of George Bush during his first term. And given the labyrinthine deals that take place in Brussels, Eurosceptics can scoff at the legitimacy of European commission president José Manuel Barroso. But when it comes Britain, there can really be no debate about the democratic credentials of our head of state. She has none.
For all the fetishisation of modernity that has gripped the political class over the last decade, there is one glaring omission in the mainstream agenda – the abolition of the monarchy. Power has been devolved to Scotland and Wales, cities have mayors and there will soon be a supreme court. But when it comes to the little things like declaring war and peace, dissolving parliament and ratifying treaties, all power lies with the monarch.
Read Full Article »