The House of Commons is a curious place, enhanced or beset by tradition, according to taste. I well recall some of the intriguing customs from my six years of toil there as a newspaper lobby correspondent.
That was in the Middle Ages so much has changed. However, one habit which remains unaltered is the granting of Royal Assent to legislation.
In my day, the Clerk would declare, in halting Norman French, that “la reyne le veult”. The Queen wills it. Since the accession of King Charles, the clerk cites “le roy”.
Norman French? William the Conqueror? Crossed the Channel? Sorted Harold? That’s the guy.
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These days, Royal Assent is automatic. But this quaint little ceremony is a reminder that sovereignty is not solely vested in the people.
We had a further – and decidedly sharper – reminder earlier this week when the UK joined the US in launching air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Supporters, the political majority, say it was vital to protect UK and global interests given that the Houthis were attacking commercial traffic in the Red Sea.
Set that aside. Consider instead how the strikes were ordered. The route to US involvement is clear. The US attacks were instigated by the President. The directly elected Commander in Chief.
But things run a little differently under the UK’s mostly unwritten constitution.
The UK attacks were carried out under the Royal Prerogative. The same centuries old system which now obliges the King to assent to legislation. The elected members of the Commons were........