MAGNA CARTA

A view of Langham Pond made up of riverside meadows, grassland, and broadleaf woodland at Runnymede and Ankerwycke, Berkshire

Magna Carta was debated and sealed, possibly on the Runnymede meadows near Windsor (left) in June 1215.

This was the first document to put in writing that the King and his government were not above the law.

It was designed to prevent the King from exploiting his power and placed limits on royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.

Fast forward to today, and scandals such as the Post Office debacle show that the principles on which Magna Carta was founded seem to have been forgotten. The Barons must be spinning in their graves.

[Incidentally, it was never signed. In those days the King and senior officials often couldn’t write; scribes were employed to write for them. Instead, the King’s Great Seal would have been affixed to the vellum on which the charter was written – and that was the ‘signature’.]

But the principle was the same; everyone was accountable, and no one was above the law. Consequently, cases such as the Post Office scandal should never have happened, and leaving victims without redress is wrong. It will be interesting to see how swiftly the victims are compensated by whichever party gets power after the election.

Debates

We are being subjected be subjected to a series of TV debates incorporating politicians from all political parties, to try and persuade us how to cast our vote. But do we want them? Will anyone listen?

Jennifer Nadel commented on the www.Change website “There was an elephant in the room at Tuesday night’s election debate..

For all the talk of taxes, immigration, and pensions, neither leader spoke about one of the most important issues facing our country: the way we do and carry out our politics.

This is what determines everything else.

When we still have politics high on conflict, low on trust, and lacking in public engagement, we won’t get good policies. We won’t get real change. I have given up watching debates in Parliament; it sickens me to witness the childish name-calling and shouting that goes on.

Anyway, nothing will have had as much impact on the public as Rishi Sunak’s decision to leave the D-Day 80-year commemoration in France early. According to Mr. Sunak his leaving early “was a “mistake,” but added that “it’s important though, given the enormity of the sacrifice made, that we don’t politicize this.”

Sorry – but this action will have sickened the British public. He could have recorded his TV interview at any time, but choosing to break off from an important event commemorating thousands who gave their lives so that we might be free, will have upset many.

Unless – was there was something else happening behind the scenes that made it imperative to take such action? No doubt it will come out in the wash – but when?

Keir Starmer sent chills down my spine. Would he really stick to his guns if faced with paying for private care for one of his family? Compassion in Politics suggests steps an incoming government could take here. They might herald an end to Westminster’s dysfunctional conflict-based approach to politics.

It is about time to bring basic human values back into the political system.

Currently, many official bodies, trying to ensure we all abide by the law, are tyeing themselves in knots. As far as I can see, The Election has become an excuse to do nothing. Phoning the NHS press offices, the Election is given out as the reason why no one is providing information. (I suspect ir’s laziness).

Charities have been told they have the legal right to campaign so long as doing so furthers the charity’s purposes and is in their best interests. Charities must also remain independent and must not give their support to a political party. Fair enough, but you can imagine how Trustees such as myself become scared of saying anything, in case we break an unknown law.

Patients’ Association

This very reputable Charity asked the Government to either pause or extend the consultation period on the new NHS regulations, because government departments aren’t able to publicise any consultations in the pre-election period.

But no, rules say nothing can be said, so it seems so if sems we won’t be told.

This is not Democracy- so back to the days when the Barons demanded the Magna Carta (Great Charter).

Descendants of the original Barons who signed the charte are around today. The Magna Carta gave the signatories the right to declare war on the king if he did not follow the charter’s provisions. It is politicians today who rule the country, so they should beware – otherwise this surf might rise up – and I bet there would be a few like-minded people prepared to uphold the principles of Magna Carta.

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