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The Constitution

Let's Pretend

The United Kingdom has an "unwritten". That's a constitution that has never been approved by the people and that cannot easily be examined. It's a pretend constituion, good enough for a people who tolerate queens and lords.

"I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."
The oath required of British legislators in a country where an unwritten constitution puts the people in second place.

We The People

Having no written constitution means that if you are British you have no rights that Parliament cannot take away. We describe how this has come about.

But there is an alternative. Read our written constitution for a new Commonwealth of Britain in which Parliament and the executive are secondary to the people. Or go straight to our " Bill of Rights" for the British people.

Town & Country

A free society needs strong local institutions that are able to stand up to an over-mighty central government. But in Britain local government has been enfeebled in recent years. The boundaries and powers of local governments can be changed at the whim, almost, of London.

The Mother of Parliaments

Although many Britons pride themselves on their democracy, the truth is that some law-makers, because they were born into the aristocracy, inherited their seats in the legislature from their parents.

The House of Lords reform bill has ended that right for some, but not all, hereditary Lords. The government's proposals for the next stage of reform may mean a chamber still filled with legislators-for-life, instead of representatives of the people.

The Centre submitted its case for a democratic legislature to the "Royal Commission" that the government asked to recommend the shape of a new legislative chamber. And we watched the commission in action and reported on the sometimes hilarious ideas that it listened to.

Still Dependent After All These Years

Although most of Britain's old empire is now free there are still some "overseas territories" which would rather not break the tie. What is to be done about them?

Where too do the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, with reputations for strict "morals" and lax financial regulation, fit into a fully democratic Britain?

Meddlesome Priests

If you think that it's only in Iran that the church and government are entwined, think again. This is the oath of fealty in which bishops of the Church of England declare that the head of state, not their god, is their sovereign:

"I accept Your Majesty as the sole source of ecclesiastical, spiritual and temporal power."

In Britain there is no separation of state and church. The government picks the pockets of the people and gives the money to privileged religions to run their schools. And the Church of England is recognised as the state church and given seats in the legislature.

Crowning It

The government also picks our pockets on behalf of the family that is at the apex of the British nation, the Windsors. Elizabeth Windsor, elected by no one, accountable to no one, is our head of state for as long as she lives and wishes to hold that office. No one outside of this family may aspire to our highest office. This is the emblem of British democracy.

Amendments

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