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Who are governed ultimately by the Prime Minister. So they do what she tells them to, ultimately making her the most important person.
by balabaster 8y ago
Who are governed ultimately by the Prime Minister. So they do what she tells them to, ultimately making her the most important person.
- arethuza 8y agoActually, I believe the armed forces of the UK actually take an oath of allegiance to the ruling monarch rather than to the state/government - I did think this didn't mean very much but I have raised the point with a serving army officer and he was rather insistent that they take it seriously: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_(United_Kingdom)#Armed_forces https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_(United_Kin...
- balabaster 8y agoInteresting, thanks
- cm2187 8y agoThe wikipedia article [1] suggests that this is formal only and that the army is under the control of the parliament, which was also my understanding. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army
- arethuza 8y agoLets just say that it's a formality that I hope never gets put to the test :-|
- cm2187 8y agoMy local MP was kind enough to organise a visit of parliament. He mentioned an amusing annecdote. The tradition still is that when the Queen visits parliament, a senior MP is held hostage in Buckingham. He was chosen on one occurence and was waiting in a drawing room of the palace, in the company of a General. To make the conversation, he asked the general "what if something were to happen to her Majesty?". The general smiled and replied "don't worry, it will be very quick".
- balabaster 8y agoThis might require further explanation for those not familiar with dry British humour ;)
- mcguire 8y agoInteresting. Dan Carlin has a series on his podcast discussing the background of the war in Asia in 1937-1945 (https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-62-supernova-in-the-east-i/ https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-62-supern...). One of his major points about the Japanese government at the time was that the military held allegiance to the emperor, who couldn't or didn't actually do anything, rather than the civilian government. As a result, the military could do essentially anything it wanted. That didn't end well.
- simonbyrne 8y agoThe Queen has immense theoretical powers, but it would trigger a major constitutional crisis if she were to exercise any of them without being asked by the PM.
- sideshowb 8y agoShe is allowed to veto proposed legislation, and potentially actually exerts some influence thereby - exactly how much remains a secret https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jan/14/secret-papers-royals-veto-bills https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jan/14/secret-papers-roy...
- int_19h 8y agoAt this point I'm not sure if UK can do much to avoid a major constitutional crisis one way or another. The deal would be seen as betrayal of Brexit by most its supporters, and remaining even more so. Hard exit would make a mess in Northern Ireland, for starters, and then you have Scotland, and not to forget that Remainers actually make the majority of the population in UK as a whole at this point.
- mr_toad 8y agoHistorically, things haven’t ended well for monarchs who tried to act independently of parliament. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England
- burfog 8y agoThe fun one is the right to shut down the entire house of commons, including the prime minister. That leaves her running the whole show pretty much, though oddly without the right to raise funds via taxes.
- balabaster 8y agoWas this legislation to avoid situations like the tyrannical Prince John of Robin Hood fame who just taxed and taxed to line his own pockets?
- AnimalMuppet 8y ago"A Man Called Intrepid" points out that this was a big deal in World War II. If England had fallen to the Nazis, the loyalty would have remained with the king, not with whatever puppet the Nazis had put in place.
- peteretep 8y agoSurely with "the crown" and not with the King?
- balabaster 8y agoThis is easily the most interesting conversation that's spawned out of this whole Brexit Clusterfuck. Thank you!
- RugnirViking 8y agoThe OP is referring to the queen, whom all millitary members actually report to.