Monday, February 06, 2006
Redefining the Tories
There must be a large number of Tories spluttering into their breakfast cups this morning as they read headlines that Cameron wants to strip the monarchy of many of its traditional powers. They will not be reading it in the Guardian of course, but nevertheless this may prove to be a seminal moment in the decline of the Conservative Party.
He is calling on his party's new democracy taskforce, chaired by Kenneth Clarke, to "consider the use by ministers of the power of the royal prerogative".
That covers a vast range of government activity, from the appointment of bishops and the honours system to the right to go to war, sign treaties and fill many official jobs. However, Mr Cameron has asked it to focus on four specific areas: the right to
· declare war and send troops abroad;
· to make international and European treaties;
· to make appointments and award honours;
· to make major changes to the structure of government.
He has specifically ruled out changes to what he calls "the personal prerogative powers of the monarch, such as the power to dissolve parliament and appoint a prime minister". Mr Cameron is anxious to make it clear that he does not have Her Majesty in his sights, but the powers ministers now exercise on her behalf. He is not, aides insist, a closet republican. That may help to placate some traditionalist Tory backbenchers, already uneasy at the direction of the party under its new leader.
As a long-time republican I happen to think Cameron is going in the right direction on this issue, as does Tony Benn. However, I am not sure what he gains by saying it or whether he can take his party with him. I am not even sure if he really believes what he is saying or if he is just speaking out for effect.
It is quite clear that the Conservative Party is never going to countenance these sort of reforms. As such its leader's attempt to redefine it will only succeed in underlining how out-of-touch he is with his own grassroots. If Cameron wants to lead a liberal party then he needs to join one. There is only so much one man can do, even in his honeymoon period, to sweeten the unpalatable pill that is today's Conservative and Unionist Party.
He is calling on his party's new democracy taskforce, chaired by Kenneth Clarke, to "consider the use by ministers of the power of the royal prerogative".
That covers a vast range of government activity, from the appointment of bishops and the honours system to the right to go to war, sign treaties and fill many official jobs. However, Mr Cameron has asked it to focus on four specific areas: the right to
· declare war and send troops abroad;
· to make international and European treaties;
· to make appointments and award honours;
· to make major changes to the structure of government.
He has specifically ruled out changes to what he calls "the personal prerogative powers of the monarch, such as the power to dissolve parliament and appoint a prime minister". Mr Cameron is anxious to make it clear that he does not have Her Majesty in his sights, but the powers ministers now exercise on her behalf. He is not, aides insist, a closet republican. That may help to placate some traditionalist Tory backbenchers, already uneasy at the direction of the party under its new leader.
As a long-time republican I happen to think Cameron is going in the right direction on this issue, as does Tony Benn. However, I am not sure what he gains by saying it or whether he can take his party with him. I am not even sure if he really believes what he is saying or if he is just speaking out for effect.
It is quite clear that the Conservative Party is never going to countenance these sort of reforms. As such its leader's attempt to redefine it will only succeed in underlining how out-of-touch he is with his own grassroots. If Cameron wants to lead a liberal party then he needs to join one. There is only so much one man can do, even in his honeymoon period, to sweeten the unpalatable pill that is today's Conservative and Unionist Party.
