I am not a great sports watcher so I wasn’t planning on watching the Olympic ceremony but I decided to watch the beginning – and then I just couldn’t turn the TV off! I think Danny Boyle and his team plus all the volunteers were superb. Humour – Mr Bean and the wonderful James Bond…
To mark her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen yesterday addressed members of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. Her speech was short, well judged and well received. There was something of a dig at the sheer volume of legislation that is enacted: “The happy relationship I have enjoyed with Parliament has extended well beyond the…
‘It’s The Sun Wot Won It’ was the headline in the Sun following the 1992 General election. I think my revised version applies to Alex Salmond becoming a born again Monarchist! Take this extract from an interview with Salmond: ‘Alex Salmond, the first minister of Scotland has just given a gushing interview about the Queen…
This was an interesting question yesterday: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/101207-0001.htm#10120738000510 It arose from Sinn Fein’s reluctance to take their seats when required to take the oath in its present form. http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/oath-of-allegiance/ I have been aware of this issue for many years. Many Scottish nationalists don’t like it and neither do those who feel we should be a republic. This matter should not…
The State Opening of Parliament is always a grand occasion. We do ceremony extremely well and this morning everything proceeded according to the timetable. The programme lists very precise timings: for example, ‘11.08 The Lord Chancellor proceeds from the Prince’s Chamber to the foot of the Sovereign’s Staircase. 11.11 The Peers appointed to carry the…
