The year 2009 saw many momentous moments but top amongst them was surely, for those who could bear to look, the gut-wrenching sight of the much-loved and much-sung Chas n Dave splitting up. Like your granny and grandad having a trial separation, the event rocked many people's worlds, shook realities and broke hearts. I was certainly in that number and haven't been able to sing 'Gertcha' without a tear in my eye ever since.Mercifully, the very near future may see a new Chas and Dave forming a highly significant and lasting union.
The last ten Prime Ministers have all served under Queen Elizabeth II. We have to go all the way back to Sir Winston Churchill before we happen across a PM that served under the previous monarch but with Her Majesty turning 84 this year, there is a very real chance that she will step aside (either voluntarily or, dare I say it, biologically) with David Cameron being the next leader of the country to serve under a new monarch, King Charles.
What sort of dynamic a Charles n Dave duo would bring to the UK would be fascinating to behold and I would predict it would be a troubling relationship from Mr Cameron's point of view. According to Johnathon Dimbleby "The Prince has accumulated a number of certainties about the state of the world and does not relish contradiction". Crikey.
I would wager that Charles would be a more active Head of State than his mother was (which is arguably the reason why she is holding on to the crown for so long!) and I would also wager that Charles is a Lib Dem or Green going by his personal interests.
Much like Zac Goldsmith has the potential to be but even more so, King Charles would be a constant thorn in the side of a Tory Government on environmental issues. Charles is a keen advocate of organic farming, releases his carbon footprint in his annual accounts, has called for the EU to be leaders in the fight against climate change and was labelled "a champion of the natural world" by Harvard University. Dave Cameron may claim 'vote blue, get green' but most people don't expect a Tory Government to push as hard as they should on environment issues.
Further instability could arise from Charles' regular letters to Cabinet Ministers and the Mayor of London to express his views, often with handwritten notes. Such 'meddling' would br frowned upon by a Tory Government that would have to be seen to be responding and taking the King's views into account. Can we expect the heir apparent to hold back such impulses when he assumes the throne, despite an obligation to be politically neutral? I don't see it myself.
What of these referendums on European issues that David Cameron has promised? Can King Charles, seemingly pro-EU, really sit on his hands and bite his tongue if a Tory Government is campaigning against something that His Majesty agrees with?
The splitting up of the original Chas n Dave was a sad moment but we may wish that the next duo sharing the same names never got together in the first place, particularly Dave who may well find that Charles has 'more rabbit than Sainsburys'.
6 comments:
Excellent post, and a very interesting thought.
I believe one reason that HM QE2 has become an arguably less active head of state is that she has been progressively pushed out under Labour, who are ultimately hankering after a republic.
I also think she can't quite believe what has happened to her country over 13 years of Labour 'rule', and she prefers to keep her distance.
On the contrary I see no reason why Charles and Dave wouldn't enjoy a prosperous relationship. They may have certain differing political perspectives, but there's probably a lot more in common with the Conservatives than with the other parties, when all said and done. Namely - they want to preserve the Monarchy.
When Prince Charles was at University, it is said that he was interested in politics and enquired if he might join the Labour Party, to be told a resounding no.
Of course the Labour Party in those days was a very different animal than now.
I think if Charles was in civvie street he would probably be a Green.
It is also said that the Queen detested Margaret Thatcher, though to be fair she was hardly alone in that.
So I don't think we can anticipate how Chas'n' Dave will get on, although I doubt that either one can play the spoons in true cockey style like their namesakes.
Thanks,
I'm not sure if I can sign up to the notion that Labour are "hankering after a republic". Granted, Labour may have a few more anti-royalists in their group than the Tories do but the SNP has even more and even it wants to keep the Royal Family if independence is won.
So assuming that King Charles (or King George as he would apparently be called) would be safe either way, I still think he'd h ave a rougher time of it under Dave than he would under any other party.
As for the Queen, I couldn't possibly guess what she thinks of the current political situation. From the very little I know of her, I find her a woman devoid of personality which is why Charles taking the throne would be a blessed breath of fresh heir. (if you pardon the pun)
I think Charles will be held back by his advisors and protocol.
Which I don't think he'll like at all, being the Prince of Wales has allowed him freedom to manouevre which he will lose when he is the King.
I'm a republican by the way, but I don't find them personally offensive at all, it's the institution I don't like. Watch ''The Queen'' with Helen Mirren in it. You'll have a higher regard for Betty when you do.
Y'know, even as a die-hard republican I could almost put up with a King Charles over the next 4/8 years if he keeps the Tories to a green agenda and helps them reign in the climate change "sceptics" in the party.
The funny thing about Charles is that in many ways his opinions have came to fruition - ideas of locally produced food, traditional skills, townplanning, environmental concern, wellbeing, promoting young people etc etc etc.
In many ways I suspect that his views, whether I or others believe in them, have had a greater impact on people's lives than many Government policies.
Charles is less outspoken these days and simply gets on with doing things through his many trusts and partnerships.
As for Dave, is he really offering anything other than sever cuts?
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