It's a girl!!!
Posted by: JamieWednesday on 02 May 2015
Congrats and felicitations to mum and dad.
But Cameron, for example, has accepted that as PM in a coalition government he might not be able to persuade enough MPs to agree to a referendum on Europe. In such a circumstance, he has said he would resign as PM.
British PMs might be persuasive, but they are well removed from dictatorship. (I hope !)
Yes, I wouldn't say Cameron is a dictator, only part way there.
British PMs might be persuasive, but they are well removed from dictatorship. (I hope !)
Indeed - Margaret Thatcher was ousted from the leadership by her own party when she came close to being dictatorial.
Actually I think the reason was the big beasts in the Tory party thought she might lose the next election. You have to admire their ruthlessness.
The way I understand it, the big beasts of the party were worried about two things:
1. The poll tax, and Thatcher's unwavering support of it. Many of the grandees knew it was going to be a disaster, and in early 1990, there were, as predicted, many riots against the egregious levy; the turning point came with the 31st March riot in London, which convinced the waverers that Mrs T's intransigence was becoming a ballot-box liability.
2. Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait and the beginnings of the First Gulf War in August 1990. The grandees were worried the Thatch was going to take a Falklands-style approach to a war which would prove immensely difficult to sell to the British public. Sabre-rattling and ostentatious displays of patriotism, which the Iron Ratbag showed every sign of using once the anticipated invasion took place, were not the order of the day. The more measured Major was seen as a much safer pair of hands through what would be a very choppy couple of years.
And with the ruthlessness for which they are famed, the Tory grandees bought about her downfall. I rather doubt they'd have won the 1992 election with Thatcher at the helm, but with Major they did, although it was an undistinguished administration, notable only for the launch of the National Lottery and the disastrous and botched railway privatisation.
And the bravely determined and successful effort to enable peace to Northern Ireland. Something that Mo Mohlem admirably concluded after the Conservatives were voted out of office.
ATB from George
And the bravely determined and successful effort to enable peace to Northern Ireland. Something that Mo Mohlem admirably concluded after the Conservatives were voted out of office.
ATB from George
The Peace Process was certainly begun under Major George, you are right.
Dear Kevin.
Major may have been un-charismatic, but he was that rare creature in politics. He did not worry about his reputation afterwards. Thatcher, Churchill, [even Blair] and many less memorable figures made errors or judgement based on the wish to be perceived well by posterity.
People underestimate John Major, because he was an ordinary man with ordinary weaknesses [such as making too much fuss of Curry for which his wife apparently forgave him], but he was in effect exactly the sort of politician we should hope for from all parties. An honest work-horse, who would never have pretended he could work miracles. And he won an election, which is as much as Churchill managed and Brown never did.
ATB from George
Charlotte (Charlie to her mates) Elizabeth Diana
Grandfather, Great Grandmother, Grandmother
You have to hand it to the parents, they really don't lack imagination do they!
As a generally disinterested observer of all things Royal I did find it rather nauseating that Kate had to perform a few hours later on the steps of the hospital, perfectly coiffured and made up to look utterly unaffected by the labours of, ahem, labour. Maybe she actually delivered surrounded by her stylist and hairdresser, elbowing the expectant Father and midwives out of the way to push back a stray lock of hair or reapply mascara throughout.
Or maybe I'm just feeling a bit mean today.
Bruce
Well, what did you expect?
Something like 'Chrystal' or 'Amber'? 
Well, what did you expect?
Something like 'Chrystal' or 'Amber'?
No, I expected something utterly predictable.
I think you will find those are now spelt 'Crystell' and 'Amba' by the way. I kid you not...
Bruce
"Queen Crystell" certainly has a progressive ring to it.
Especially with an acute accent placed above the 'e' 
Well, what did you expect?
Something like 'Chrystal' or 'Amber'?
Didn't some celebrity just name their kid "Snot Rocket" or something?
Better than some five yearly Presidential election where each candidate seems to have a chequered history anyway and can interfere with the wishes of the wider elected caucus.
Isn't a British general election exactly the same as you describe? In the British system, the legislative is in fact under the control of the executive - there are many ways in which the PM can and will influence Parliament, thus "[interfering] with the wishes of the wider elected caucus".I do agree, though, that having a head of State who appears to be above the fray - and rather powerless (Italy, Germany, Britain) - might not be a bad idea.
Not really, because the UK Prime Minister is not head of state (the sovereign is), and cannot overrule the will of Parilament.
A recent example of this would be Cameron's desire to invade Syria, which was defeated by a (small) majority of MPs. In theory, he could have used the Royal Perogative to overrule this, but it would be completely unacceptable and would cause a constitutional crisis.
The PM can only influence Parliament through his or her party (and then only if enjoys a majority) and its whips, but on matters of conscience - war, death penalty, abortion, etc - MPs are given a free vote.
The system we have here is a bit odd and doesn't resemble anywhere else. We don't even have a properly codified constitution!
Kevin, I agree with everything you are saying in your posts except for the last line. Correct me if I am wrong but the British system was certainly exported around the world and has had a major influence on the political system of many countries. One example is Canada, which until 1982 had as its constitution the BNA (British North America Act, 1867). I'd call this major influence. Canada has a House of Commons and a Senate and the Queen is still head of state. Yes, it is different in the details but I would say still resembles each other in more way than one.
Dear Kevin.
Major may have been un-charismatic, but he was that rare creature in politics. He did not worry about his reputation afterwards. Thatcher, Churchill, [even Blair] and many less memorable figures made errors or judgement based on the wish to be perceived well by posterity.
People underestimate John Major, because he was an ordinary man with ordinary weaknesses [such as making too much fuss of Curry for which his wife apparently forgave him], but he was in effect exactly the sort of politician we should hope for from all parties. An honest work-horse, who would never have pretended he could work miracles. And he won an election, which is as much as Churchill managed and Brown never did.
ATB from George
Yes, I agree with George. My impression of John Major is he was (is) a decent chap with integrity, which probably made him thoroughly ill-equipped to deal with the underhand tactics of some of his cabinet colleagues.
M
Well, what did you expect?
Something like 'Chrystal' or 'Amber'?
LaFawnduh
