Did you watch the State opening of Parliament recently? I do not usually bother, but this year I thought the installation of a new government was worth it.

Well there is certainly plenty of ‘Pomp’, all that ritual, and highly symbolic language. The monarch, the unelected Head of State, talking about ‘my government’. Well, it is not his government, it is ours, we all went out and voted to elect our representatives. He cannot vote with us commoners.

The ‘Circumstances’ echo around the Palace of Westminster on these occasions, emphasising that essentially we are still in large measure a very Feudal nation.

The continued existence of the ‘House of Peers’ is a paradox in the twenty-first century. Why do we have, and tolerate, an unelected upper House of Parliament? Half democratic, and half the lingering influence of the ‘ancient regime’, in name and indeed, the old land owning aristocracy who ran this country in their own interests for centuries. Using their wealth, influence and power to maintain the social and political status quo. The continued use and value of Royal patronage is crucial; it is symbolic and practical.

We have been told by many historians over the years that this Aristo power of the old families and the many wannabes, had all been swept away by the rise and triumph of the industrial capitalist class. The Reform Acts of 1832 and 1867 in particular reflected the growing influence of the great Ironmasters of the North, insistent on having a more equal representation to pursue through legislation their own vested interests. But, tradition, status seeking, and money seem to have got in the way. A classic example is the consequences that followed the abolition of slavery in 1834. Many of the great landowners along with those increasing numbers of wannabies, like the Drax family in Dorset, had massive investment in the slave trade, and were then on abolition paid by the State (borrowed money) millions in compensation.

Vast amounts of the profits accrued from the slave and sugar trades was recycled through the City of London (no moralising there) and used for example, to create huge new country estates. Many now run by the National Trust of course.

There were, and still are, massive resentments in the North of England towards London. The new Industrial class did believe and asserted, that they were the productive wealth making powerhouse in the Nation. The antagonisms between Manchester and London in particular, still exist; it’s not just football teams!

So, as liberated citizens of this ‘democratic’ nation, why have we not demanded that the successive Governments we ‘elect’ sweep away this archaic system? Is it because we do not care sufficiently, is it because successive governments,

especially Labour ones, promise reform but fail to deliver? If we fail to act, we are very aware that other people inside and outside of Parliament will pursue their own vested interests.

We are also aware that not all of our elected representatives are very interested in democracy. Boris Johnson and his acolytes have shown a contempt for Parliament in recent years, often being scolded by the Speaker of the Commons for their contempt of parliamentary protocols. We also became aware of Johnson lying to Parliament, and therefore us citizens, over breaches of the ‘Covid’ lockdown regulations, and so on. He also grew impatient with Parliament agreeing to comply with his wishes, seeking to close down proceedings (prorogation) to take executive action without proper debate and votes etc.

So, we have plenty of experience of threats to what democracy we have, and as many bloody struggles were necessary to get us to what we do have, vigilance is required to secure it.