OurKingdom

Tom Griffin (London, OK): The Government this week published its response to an epetition from Republic's Challenge the Oath Campaign. It makes for an interesting commentary on our constitution:

No oath of allegiance is required of most public officials, including civil servants and local government officers.  In relation to those groups of whom an oath is required, the oath is constitutionally important because it is a declaration relating to the supremacy of the Sovereign, which is fundamental to our system of government by the Crown-in-Parliament.  Oaths of allegiance to the Crown, or affirmations for those who do not wish to swear to God, are sworn by members of certain professions on taking office, as well as by new British citizens. The Government believes the Monarchy is a vital element in our constitution, personifying both national and Commonwealth unity. The Government has no plans to change the wording of the oath.

It's clear that the Government regards the oath as no mere ornamental anachronism but of enduring significance. It is not simply a pledge of personal loyalty to the Queen, but neither is it a straightforward proxy for loyalty to the nation as a whole.

Tom Griffin (London, OK): Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams spoke at Westminster last night on the latest leg of an international tour intended to build support for a united Ireland. In the event, it was a remarkably open-ended occasion, one much more about canvassing ideas than about presenting a finished strategy.

That tone is also reflected in Adams' piece in Comment is Free today:

To achieve all of this requires those of us who share these goals to find ways in which we can work together. Is it possible to put in place a formal structured broad front approach to campaign for a united Ireland? Or would it be better to opt for an informal, organic and popular movement based on core principles?

One definite proposal is for a major conference in Britain next February: 

Of course this conversation, this dialogue, with people here in Britain or in the US or elsewhere will not in itself achieve a united Ireland. That is a matter for agreement between the people who live on the island of Ireland. But British policy toward Ireland is key to unlocking the potential for this change to occur. So, we need the active support of people in Britain.

We need to reach out to the widest possible public opinion, to the trade unions, the business sector, the community and voluntary sector, to the political class, as well as with those of other ethnic minorities who have experienced a similar history of colonisation and immigration. 

One interesting moment last night highlighted some of the dilemmas of building a broadbased campaign in Britain. Adams remarked that there may yet be an independent Scotland before there is an independent Ireland.

Tom Griffin (London, OK): ConservativeHome has today published a survey of 144 Tory candidates in the 220 most winnable seats for the party at the next general election.

One particularly eye-catching detail: 54 per cent say "the Union should be defended at all costs", while 46 per cent would "not be uncomfortable about Scotland becoming independent."

On the face of it this is a remarkable result for a party whose unionism traditionally has been a core value. 

Tom Griffin (London, OK): Will the Scots Ever Be Satisfied? Panorama asks at 8.30 pm on BBC One this evening in a retrospective on ten years of devolution by BBC Scotland editor Brian Taylor.

Labour's Tam Dalyell staunchly opposed a Scottish Parliament because he believed it would never be satisfied short of independence. At the weekend, he pointed to the Calman Report's recent recommendation of greater tax powers as vindication of this view.

Tom Griffin (London, OK): Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris has announced that he is to table a  Commons motion to reform the Act of Settlement. Evans proposals would allow the sovereign to marry a Catholic and let women to take equal precedence in the line of succession.

Writing in his Telegraph blog, Holy Smoke, Catholic Herald editor Damian Thompson is not impressed:

Dr Evan Harris, the Lib Dem MP nicknamed "Dr Death" for his creepy determination to make late-term abortions and euthanasia more widely available, now has a new cause: he wants to remove the ban on the heir to the throne marrying a Catholic.

You know something? Catholics don't want to be liberated from this constitutional discrimination by a politician who advocates an end to the requirement that any abortion requires the consent of two doctors, arguing that the "procedure" can carried out by a nurse or even in the home.

Perhaps the alternative conclusion is that Dr Harris's obvious differences with the Catholic Church make his opposition to discrimination all the more principled.

Maurice Frankel (London, Campaign for Freedom of Information): The following message was sent out by the Campaign for Freedom of Information today:

Dear Friend

We are writing to ask you to write to or email  your MP as a matter of urgency opposing the government’s attempt to remove MPs’ and Peers’ expenses from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.

The proposal was drawn up in secret with no prior announcement or consultation. It was revealed on the Parliamentary Order paper on Thursday last week and is due to be voted on in the Commons and the Lords on Thursday this week - January 22nd. It will become law the following day, if approved.

Please ask your MP to vote against the Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009 on Thursday and to sign Jo Swinson MP’s EDM (a parliamentary motion) opposing the order.

Stuart Weir (London, Democratic Audit): As is the way of things, only bad news from Northern Ireland makes it onto the British media. So it is that there was something of a media blackout on the report to government here from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, advocating a Bill of Rights for the province that contained significant economic and social rights.  The report, or advice, was submitted on 10 December, international Human Rights Day.

The Commission is a statutory body, set up under the Northern Ireland Act, to recommend a Bill of Rights specifically for the province that reflects “the particular circumstances” of Northern Ireland and draws upon international human rights instruments.  The Commission has worked hard since 2000 to meet this brief, but has continually met political obstruction because of its members’ interest in a broad and consensual proposal.

Tom Griffin (London, OK): The Convention on Modern Liberty is fast approaching at the end of next month. Sunny Hundal offers a valuable perspective on the event's significance.

The mainstream liberal-left has become far too accommodating of encroaching state power in recent years, justifying it simply because a supposedly left-wing government was in power.

For me, the left should always be suspicious of state power because it is usually biased towards powerful vested interests against the rights of the common woman or man.

Sunny and Liberal Conspiracy will be hosting a Blogger's Summit on the day. You can help set the agenda by joining the conversation.

 

 

Trevor Smith (York, House of Lords): The formal re-uniting of the Ulster Unionist Party and Conservatives is major blunder by David Cameron: it will further polarise politics in Northern Ireland. It will invite a response not only from the other legitimate political parties in Ulster but, worse, is likely to provoke further violence from the dissident Republican para-military groups.

His assertion at the UUP's annual conference that this new merger signals his Unionist credentials is foolish and dangerous posturing. The UUP is now a small rump of a party with only one MP at Westminster and she, Lady Hermon, is rightly sceptical of the new arrangement. It will do nothing for the Tories and precious little for the UUP.

However, Cameron's Unionism is not spread equally thickly throughout the UK. In Scotland he tactically hopes that the SNP will be successful enough to limit the number of Labour MPs at Westminster to secure him a majority at the next General Election. Cynical tactics for a party leader who proclaims transparency and integrity in policy formation.

Trevor Smith is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Northern Ireland in the House of Lords

David Davis thinks our liberty is in peril. Many on the liberal left agree. They may not be sure about the messenger, but they gave him a hearing last night in a Westminster debate sponsored by the Observer and Comment is Free.

Backed up by Observer columnist Henry Porter, Davis took on Labour MP Denis McShane and David Aaronovitch of the Times at an event whose tone was acutely summed up by Ros Taylor:

As you’ve probably noticed, OurKingdom has recently been migrated onto the main openDemocracy site, and from now on will be using the same Drupal technology as openDemocracy’s other specialist blogs (such as openRussia, and openUSA). This move comes at a time when openDemocracy itself is changing rapidly, and internally it made sense for OurKingdom to move onto the same platform as the rest of oD. It also gives us a lot more scope for technological improvements than WordPress was able to.

Guy Aitchison (London, OK): We've migrated Our Kingdom across from Wordpress on to the main openDemocracy site. It's an exciting move for us as we celebrate our first birthday this month, making us a grown up in blog terms! Apologies for any hiccups in the transition and please do let us know in the comments what you think about the design, features, any technical glitches etc. All the comments have been moved across apart from the most recent which I'll be moving over soon.

Jon Bright (London, OK): OurKingdom will be moving websites between today and tomorrow, so apologies in advance for any technical glitches etc. you may experience. Rest assured all previous comments etc. will be transferred across.

Published this week:

News

The devolved nations begin to challenge PFI

The Bank of England swaps mortagages for bonds

England celebrates St. George's day

Published this week:

News

The UK holds bilateral talks with itself

ACPO releases a report claiming stories of migrant crime waves are "myths"

Some of the things published on in the last week:

News

Heathrow's new terminal fiasco continues

Bertie Ahern resigns

House of Commons announces adequacy of select committees

From this week we will be publishing the OurKingdom weekly roundup on the website as well, to highlight some of the content we put out over the past week.

In the last week, we published:

News

Nick Clegg calls for the number of MPs to be reduced by 150

Jon Bright (London, OK): If you've been reading us since the year began you might of noticed we ran a "Year Ahead" series - asking some of our regular contributors to look at what's going to be importance for power, democracy and governance in the UK in 2008. You can read the series in full here. There are ten posts from Ireland and the EU to accountability and the economy.

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Team OK have been in a reformers seminar all day. And what a difference a day can make.

Peter Hain finally resigned, I am confident that, as I wrote at the start, it was the creation of his Front Tank which made it look as if constructive camouflage had taken place not "just" an innocent mistake. Nick Robinson thinks slightly differently.

To all our readers!  Thank you from OK