Queen enjoys record support

nevman

Whats not to like?

MaxwellBygraves

Tom Dean wrote:

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

Good article in Guardian today for republicans: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/2 ... CMP=twt_fd

erm, isn't that the article that prompted the thread?

I think I posted the wrong link, just checked! Oops

pinno

Two minds about this. The most stable political states exist under a benign monarchy. On the other hand, a HoS would be able to concentrate on international affairs and the prime minister would be concerned primarily on domestic issues.
Is it possible that many Europeans (Take the French) have the ability to change things they don't like because they are a republic ? Re.: Biggest protest march in UK history over the Iraq war and it did'nt make a difference. Does the current UK political spectrum consist of almost all 'old school tie' networks? Is this holding us back and perpetuating the 'muddling through' mentality/way of doing things that we do so well at (or very badly)?
Currently I think that there are too many vested interests in our political make up which keeps the power in the hands of the elite for the elite. Would having a HoS change that ?

Cressers

Who knows? What we do know is that we don't even have the opportunity to find out. Why is it that most tiers of government are subject to election and re-election but the second parliamentary chamber and the HoS arn't? it does seem bizarre.

DesB3rd

Is it possible that many Europeans (Take the French) have the ability to change things they don't like because they are a republic ?

I suspect it’s a mistake to think of protest (& govt reaction) in France as a display of public opinion, rather these are highly organised, niche vested interest groups turning the volume to 11 as soon as they smell a threat to their quilted niche (which they’ll doubtless pitch as integral to the “gallic way of life”) in the rhenish consensus. The idea that a quiet majority could achieve its will via the ballot box is very remote to this system.

It’ll be interesting in the coming months; I’ll wager that while Hollande might loosen the purse strings a fair bit, and socialist though he is, if he as much as hints at meaningful institutional reform the unions, farmers, lorry drivers, doctors, whoever, will ensure that nothing comes of it.

OK meandered off topic a bit; but France is a pretty poor example of a more reactive (or for that matter less elitist) political system. As much as the UK seems wedded to its political traditions, this is superficial our system is really a lot more flexible & reactive than most European republics. Not that that has anything to do with the hereditory nature of our head of state...

Cleat Eastwood

it can't be just me who's thinking "I wouldn't mind mind raining over her"

Sleeping_menace

The only record setting support that old wind bag is experiencing is possibly from her bra... certainly not from the population....