Power and authority are central to leaders and government. Rights and responsibilities are central to the Government and to the governed. These qualities have been central to the events of recent days even though commentators have focussed upon the sad loss of our Monarch, the succession and the pageantry that surrounds it all.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II – surely to be known as Elizabeth the Great – has been a central figure to the nation for far more than my lifetime and she had been a rock around which technological, cultural and political changes swirled. As so many commentators have said, we have barely any idea of what Her Majesty thought about any of it.
This is the correct position for our Monarch whose first duty is to lead and unify the nation as a whole. There are plenty of stand-up comics, media personalities and politicians who can give a view of the world so we do not need another added to the mix. Whilst, as Prince Charles, King Charles expressed views on a wide range of topics, his address to the nation informed us that he is now going to focus on being our King, leader and unifier.
The French, Americans and many other countries have a politician as their Head of State. No doubt, there are some advantages but Britain has a better system. Our Head of State is above politics and, as such, can unite the country whilst a political leader, by the nature of politics, will always divide.
This past week has been extraordinary for a variety of reasons but not least when we view it though the prism of power and authority. Liz Truss become our new Head of Government and King Charles became our new Head of State. The King does not hold power but has immense authority whilst the Prime Minister holds great power but her authority can wax and wane with the political tides.
We can imagine many countries where such a profound change would be marked by discontent or even violence. In Britain, the crowds on the streets have been bearing flowers and lamentation tinged with a sense of good will towards the new King and Queen consort.
Our system works. Our, sometimes confusing, system works well in the most challenging of times. Liz Truss, as Prime Minister, will now know this better than anybody else. We have a Parliamentary Monarchy, the Monarch appoints the Prime Minister who in turn, on behalf of the Monarch, appoints the Government. If Parliament has no confidence in the Government, we have a General Election and see who emerges to be invited by the Monarch to form the next Government.
The British people have a strong sense of their rights and responsibilities, the Monarch represents the people as do the politicians who in turn also have the duty to govern. Queen Elizabeth’s reign succeeded because of the balance of power, authority, rights and responsibilities.
King Charles III’s reign will be equally happy and glorious.
This article was originally published in the Wigan Observer on 17th September 2022: https://www.wigantoday.net/news/politics/chris-green-mp-its-our-system-…
