Government In Turmoil

Nobody predicted what is now happening, because not a single rational person thought events  unfolding could happen. In Great Britain. The home of stable, decisive government and world class statecraft. Yet, here we are with a government now on the threshold of being voted in contempt of parliament and additionally facing certain defeat on its main policy platform, upon which parliament itself is so divided no alternative is in sight with any chance of commanding a majority. But, through tinkering with our fabled unwritten constitution (rather than writing and codifying a proper one approved by the people) without the constitutional means to end this torture.

Before the idiotic Fixed Term Parliament act we had two balancing powers which avoided any prospect of the spectacle now unfolding. The Prime Minister alone had the power to ask the Queen for a dissolution, so as to give democratic voice to the people and could do so without notice to anybody but the Monarch. And Parliament could sack the government by passing a motion of no confidence in it. If carried by one vote the government resigned and an election was called. That is how Thatcher came to power in 1979.

So here we are today in the midst of the greatest constitutional change since the Reformation, promoted as a restoration of sovereignty previously ceded to the EU, but which in the event turns out to be the greatest loss of sovereignty in our history.  Nobody in government, parliament, the law, the media or anywhere knows what will happen next.