England changes again. Although the departure of Tony Blair as Prime Minister and the arrival of the Chancellor of Exchequer as first Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will affect all of the United Kingdom, the truth is that it will affect England more. Northern Ireland has commenced its own new political dimension as I believe has Scotland. Wales has been developing a sense of nationality and separateness from Westminster.
England has also experienced a transformation over the past ten years. It is for future historians to assess the extent to which change has been caused by the action of the British, European, USA or other governments, from organic development or from the accumulative action of diverse individuals and groups. There is no correlation between the effectiveness of government and the widespread disaffection with the political processes, with party politics and at the behaviour of individual politicians.
In contrast to the public view of politicians the position of the Queen has been enhanced. Ten years ago, over a matter of days, the country changed from being indifferent about its Royal household into a revolutionary anti monarchist maelstrom as a consequence of the sudden death of former Princess Diana. I was glued to UK and USA media for days on end as well as visiting London to view the flowers, sign books of condolences and watch the funeral service, the journey before the service and then to the gates of where she is buried. I subsequently visited her childhood home and resting place.
The Queen has become invincible, but not royalty, or the aristocracy. It is uncertain what will happen when Queen Elizabeth dies. I have changed my mind over my adulthood. The idea of a monarchy and an aristocracy was incompatible with twentieth century democracy, even if its role was reduced to being the top of the tourist and heritage industries.
The Queen has become an icon for the role of Britain in the world and she can command the loyalty of the armed and national services like no Prime Minister or government. She remains the bridge between British History to the time of Queen Victoria and the redefinition of England's and Britain's role in the present and next century,
I remain to be convinced that the underlying power and wealth structure in the UK has fundamentally or should fundamentally changed with control held by lawyers and accountants, and their institutions, and with accountants in the ascendancy over lawyers. There has been one addition to the power elite, that of 24 hours media, with three and now two 24 hours TV news programmes, and has contributed to the lowering of political interest among the electorate in comparison with public interest and participation TV programmes such as the Big Brother House being more influential that the talent shows. Great wealth has been accumulated by individuals who are celebrities or professional footballers, much as Hollywood stars of yesteryear, and some have combined these roles with an involvement in political and social issues, but they remain essentially the froth, the circuses of the bread and circuses, which welds the general population into acceptance of the rule by a favoured few over them. The great strength of the British power elite has been and remains its ability to accept newcomers able and willing to accept the mores of the club.
We have always been good at managing other people's money, irrespective of how it was accumulated eg from the slave trade and more recently from drug trafficking, but until the past decade we were not so good as managing our general economy to achieve the stability which any power elite needs to perpetuate itself. This has been the achievement masterminded by Gordon Brown. His opening words about change and greater public participation are inconsistent with the maintenance of political and economic stability, achieved best by a public disinterested in politics unless their position becomes undermined. There are always gainers and losers moving in and out of the majority, but the majority will remain disinterested unless whipped up by an individual issue.
There has been a great transformation in the fabric of our education and health services although they are not tuned into what is needed for Britain to have an effective role in the new world and social order. There is also the problem that our more fundamental infrastructure remains of the past and will be more difficult and costly to modernise with the passing of each decade. Our drainage system is the most current issue, but the most important with be out lack of natural energy sources. The Prime Minister's new role will be crucial in retaining a balance between our dependency on Middle East Oil and on Russian Gas, and the development of friendship with China will be crucial for the next century as China will replace the USA as, the world power.
We were right to balance our greater involvement with Europe in a positive way with developing special links with the USA regardless of political attitudes and reservations about the USA president from a political ideological viewpoint. All governments and religions fail when they put ideology and beliefs before the future welfare of the people collectively. My only criticism of our intervention in mid Europe, in Afghanistan and in Iraq is that the Prime Minister was not able to build up a team quickly enough with the knowledge of history, the grasp of the situations in which we intervened, or had control over resources needed to be able pull ourselves out before realities of the aftermath commenced. or we had the capacity to mobilise others to join us to ensure that the original set task could be completed. The biggest mistake was to go into Iraq without ensuring that the USA understood, and was willing and able undertake the task of the reconstruction, has it had in post World War Europe and Germany. Admittedly the threat of Communism and of Russia had glued the North Atlantic alliance together in way a few terrorist atrocities have not.
The tragedy of the failure of Iraq is that it will prevent and USA UK alone intervention in situations where a merciless and ruthless dictator maintains power by the removal of opposition and declaring genocide on some selected group because or race, creed or because the group are the best choice available. The rest of the World will be reluctant to take any lead, and it will take time before China is established and the great worry is how Japan and Russia will react to the emergency of China as the world power
I broke off from writing and the train of thought to witness and experience the last occasion when the Prime Minister answered questions in the House of Commons, and indeed the last occasion that he would be in the Commons, because it is understood that immediately following his resignation to the Queen, he travels to his Parliamentary Constituency to resign, in order to become, in effect, a world envoy to try and bring peace in the Middle East by resolving the future of Palestine and in effect the future of Israel, the Middle East and the earth world. It was fitting that the penultimate words were spoken by the first Minister of Northern Ireland Iain Paisley, who was honest, but genuine in his recognition, and positive about the Prime Minister's new role.
There were moments of surrealism and if great humour particularly when a well known anti European (anti British involvement in a federated Europe politically and economically) and to great cheers, from is colleagues, a signal as much to his Party leader, as to the Opposition, rose to ask for a Referendum on the revised Treaty (hmm proposed new European Constitution) and the Prime Minister ended by saying Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehene, Arrivederci. This was as funny and pointed as when answering the first question of the day on his engagement for the day; he commented that after Question time him no other official engagements as Prime Minister, to day or ever more.
England, London especially, has become an international community. The Muslim and Catholic religions are likely to become the major religions replacing the Church of England and Protestant religions, because of import of Catholics from central Europe and the attraction of the Muslim teachings to many, because it brings security, safety and a clear role to both men and women, and to an ordered family life. I forecast the disestablishment of the Church of England.
It is with children and the young that the greatest success and failure has occurred, although how much is political and economically led and how much a response to a world wide phenomena is beyond my capacity and experience to make judgement. There has been major new emphasis on provision for children before school and on their primary level education, and then on education examination attainment at sixteen and eighteen in order to fuel the amazing expansion in university and further education to cope with the switch from an industrial and goods producing economy to a financial, technical, entertainment and tourist economy, although this is not to belittle the continuing importance of producing our own food and goods for internal consumption and export. However the bi product of this, although cheap Mediterranean holiday and alcoholic drink have been the first cause, has been the transformation of parts of our city centres into bars and clubs catering for the young, who can be seen partying in drunken groups, often single sex groups at weekends, and to lesser extent throughout the week, especially during further education term times.
There is the problem of those who miss out or are not equipped to survive and progress in this new youth culture, and of all skin colours, racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. There is the adverse impact of giving greater freedom to get rich quick of gambling which is in fact the British and English vice, as the Celts tend to be more careful with their wealth. For me the most visible impact of change is to encounter the variety of languages in such a place as my present home town and it will be interesting to see how a Scottish Prime Minister (who sounds and behaves as a quintessential Scotsman, although Blair was born and went to university in Scotland he was as English as any English person can claim to be) approaches the question of defining Englishness and being a British citizen, given that Scottish, Welsh and Irish history has a very different perspective from that taught in English school during my education, albeit half a century ago.
I break off again to check when Tim Henman plays his second round tie at Wimbledon as after his performance on Monday and then in the rain affected match yesterday afternoon, the vista of opportunity has opened up without any of the previous pressure of expectation and build up.
I must also attend to what I think is the important communication for four years, and which changes my life from this moment on. I decide to do this rather than write up more this momentous day. Determined to lose weight I went for an after meal evening walk, down to the front for the live music, only to remember midway that it was Wednesday and the entertainment was on Thursday.
England has also experienced a transformation over the past ten years. It is for future historians to assess the extent to which change has been caused by the action of the British, European, USA or other governments, from organic development or from the accumulative action of diverse individuals and groups. There is no correlation between the effectiveness of government and the widespread disaffection with the political processes, with party politics and at the behaviour of individual politicians.
In contrast to the public view of politicians the position of the Queen has been enhanced. Ten years ago, over a matter of days, the country changed from being indifferent about its Royal household into a revolutionary anti monarchist maelstrom as a consequence of the sudden death of former Princess Diana. I was glued to UK and USA media for days on end as well as visiting London to view the flowers, sign books of condolences and watch the funeral service, the journey before the service and then to the gates of where she is buried. I subsequently visited her childhood home and resting place.
The Queen has become invincible, but not royalty, or the aristocracy. It is uncertain what will happen when Queen Elizabeth dies. I have changed my mind over my adulthood. The idea of a monarchy and an aristocracy was incompatible with twentieth century democracy, even if its role was reduced to being the top of the tourist and heritage industries.
The Queen has become an icon for the role of Britain in the world and she can command the loyalty of the armed and national services like no Prime Minister or government. She remains the bridge between British History to the time of Queen Victoria and the redefinition of England's and Britain's role in the present and next century,
I remain to be convinced that the underlying power and wealth structure in the UK has fundamentally or should fundamentally changed with control held by lawyers and accountants, and their institutions, and with accountants in the ascendancy over lawyers. There has been one addition to the power elite, that of 24 hours media, with three and now two 24 hours TV news programmes, and has contributed to the lowering of political interest among the electorate in comparison with public interest and participation TV programmes such as the Big Brother House being more influential that the talent shows. Great wealth has been accumulated by individuals who are celebrities or professional footballers, much as Hollywood stars of yesteryear, and some have combined these roles with an involvement in political and social issues, but they remain essentially the froth, the circuses of the bread and circuses, which welds the general population into acceptance of the rule by a favoured few over them. The great strength of the British power elite has been and remains its ability to accept newcomers able and willing to accept the mores of the club.
We have always been good at managing other people's money, irrespective of how it was accumulated eg from the slave trade and more recently from drug trafficking, but until the past decade we were not so good as managing our general economy to achieve the stability which any power elite needs to perpetuate itself. This has been the achievement masterminded by Gordon Brown. His opening words about change and greater public participation are inconsistent with the maintenance of political and economic stability, achieved best by a public disinterested in politics unless their position becomes undermined. There are always gainers and losers moving in and out of the majority, but the majority will remain disinterested unless whipped up by an individual issue.
There has been a great transformation in the fabric of our education and health services although they are not tuned into what is needed for Britain to have an effective role in the new world and social order. There is also the problem that our more fundamental infrastructure remains of the past and will be more difficult and costly to modernise with the passing of each decade. Our drainage system is the most current issue, but the most important with be out lack of natural energy sources. The Prime Minister's new role will be crucial in retaining a balance between our dependency on Middle East Oil and on Russian Gas, and the development of friendship with China will be crucial for the next century as China will replace the USA as, the world power.
We were right to balance our greater involvement with Europe in a positive way with developing special links with the USA regardless of political attitudes and reservations about the USA president from a political ideological viewpoint. All governments and religions fail when they put ideology and beliefs before the future welfare of the people collectively. My only criticism of our intervention in mid Europe, in Afghanistan and in Iraq is that the Prime Minister was not able to build up a team quickly enough with the knowledge of history, the grasp of the situations in which we intervened, or had control over resources needed to be able pull ourselves out before realities of the aftermath commenced. or we had the capacity to mobilise others to join us to ensure that the original set task could be completed. The biggest mistake was to go into Iraq without ensuring that the USA understood, and was willing and able undertake the task of the reconstruction, has it had in post World War Europe and Germany. Admittedly the threat of Communism and of Russia had glued the North Atlantic alliance together in way a few terrorist atrocities have not.
The tragedy of the failure of Iraq is that it will prevent and USA UK alone intervention in situations where a merciless and ruthless dictator maintains power by the removal of opposition and declaring genocide on some selected group because or race, creed or because the group are the best choice available. The rest of the World will be reluctant to take any lead, and it will take time before China is established and the great worry is how Japan and Russia will react to the emergency of China as the world power
I broke off from writing and the train of thought to witness and experience the last occasion when the Prime Minister answered questions in the House of Commons, and indeed the last occasion that he would be in the Commons, because it is understood that immediately following his resignation to the Queen, he travels to his Parliamentary Constituency to resign, in order to become, in effect, a world envoy to try and bring peace in the Middle East by resolving the future of Palestine and in effect the future of Israel, the Middle East and the earth world. It was fitting that the penultimate words were spoken by the first Minister of Northern Ireland Iain Paisley, who was honest, but genuine in his recognition, and positive about the Prime Minister's new role.
There were moments of surrealism and if great humour particularly when a well known anti European (anti British involvement in a federated Europe politically and economically) and to great cheers, from is colleagues, a signal as much to his Party leader, as to the Opposition, rose to ask for a Referendum on the revised Treaty (hmm proposed new European Constitution) and the Prime Minister ended by saying Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehene, Arrivederci. This was as funny and pointed as when answering the first question of the day on his engagement for the day; he commented that after Question time him no other official engagements as Prime Minister, to day or ever more.
England, London especially, has become an international community. The Muslim and Catholic religions are likely to become the major religions replacing the Church of England and Protestant religions, because of import of Catholics from central Europe and the attraction of the Muslim teachings to many, because it brings security, safety and a clear role to both men and women, and to an ordered family life. I forecast the disestablishment of the Church of England.
It is with children and the young that the greatest success and failure has occurred, although how much is political and economically led and how much a response to a world wide phenomena is beyond my capacity and experience to make judgement. There has been major new emphasis on provision for children before school and on their primary level education, and then on education examination attainment at sixteen and eighteen in order to fuel the amazing expansion in university and further education to cope with the switch from an industrial and goods producing economy to a financial, technical, entertainment and tourist economy, although this is not to belittle the continuing importance of producing our own food and goods for internal consumption and export. However the bi product of this, although cheap Mediterranean holiday and alcoholic drink have been the first cause, has been the transformation of parts of our city centres into bars and clubs catering for the young, who can be seen partying in drunken groups, often single sex groups at weekends, and to lesser extent throughout the week, especially during further education term times.
There is the problem of those who miss out or are not equipped to survive and progress in this new youth culture, and of all skin colours, racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. There is the adverse impact of giving greater freedom to get rich quick of gambling which is in fact the British and English vice, as the Celts tend to be more careful with their wealth. For me the most visible impact of change is to encounter the variety of languages in such a place as my present home town and it will be interesting to see how a Scottish Prime Minister (who sounds and behaves as a quintessential Scotsman, although Blair was born and went to university in Scotland he was as English as any English person can claim to be) approaches the question of defining Englishness and being a British citizen, given that Scottish, Welsh and Irish history has a very different perspective from that taught in English school during my education, albeit half a century ago.
I break off again to check when Tim Henman plays his second round tie at Wimbledon as after his performance on Monday and then in the rain affected match yesterday afternoon, the vista of opportunity has opened up without any of the previous pressure of expectation and build up.
I must also attend to what I think is the important communication for four years, and which changes my life from this moment on. I decide to do this rather than write up more this momentous day. Determined to lose weight I went for an after meal evening walk, down to the front for the live music, only to remember midway that it was Wednesday and the entertainment was on Thursday.
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