Prime Ministers in UK have been a contentious issue, with the last four taking over without the consent of the people of Great Britain.
- The contributions of Winston Churchill, Clement Atlee, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair to UK society are cited as examples of how crucial the Prime Minister’s role is.
- The recent Prime Ministers have given the country Brexit, an increase in national insurance and council tax, the highest rise in energy inflation, and the largest decline in GDP of the six other members of G7.
- The upcoming battle royal will be influenced by technology, AI, and the new people’s king, Charles III.
Yesterday was a very interesting day in British politics. It was the 13th anniversary of the last time an elected Prime Minister took office in the UK: David Cameron. The next four, namely Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak took over the reins of leadership without the consent of the people of Great Britain.
Purists may argue that the structure of their government dictates that unlike the United States, the population of this nation vote for their local representative, not the man or woman who will become Prime Minister. Therefore, the Prime Minister is ispo facto the least important person in the electoral machine – to the man or woman in the street, that is.
Oh really? Try telling that to Winston Churchill, Clement Atlee, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. The way they played their ‘least important’ role in government was to give the man and woman in the street courage, resilience, a working welfare system, economic self-determination and a liveable minimum wage. Despite some pretty big blots on their time as leaders, the contribution they made to UK society remain steadfast as societal pillars.
I use the example of four of the greatest Prime Ministers in Britain as an unsubtle dig at both the process that put the last four in power, and their achievements in the service of this ‘united’ kingdom.
They gave the country Brexit.
They gave the country an increase in national insurance.
They gave the country a rise in council tax.
They gave the country the highest rise in energy inflation.
They gave the country the largest decline in GDP of the six other members of G7.
Four Prime Ministers gave us all this, in thirteen years.
What a remarkable achievement from four Prime Ministers whose rise to office in this democracy had absolutely nothing to do with a popular vote.
There’s a Storm Coming
The trigger for all these acts of generosity from No.10 is how technology has been manipulated in service of political gain; that’s stating the obvious. But there’s a new tech presence now, that strides like a colossus through our lives, throwing an ever-lengthening shadow on everything we do, second by second. It’s the rapidly increasing sophistication of AI which will dominate the elections of the two countries which used to be the ‘Beacons on the Hill’ for the rest of the world. Great Britain and The United States of America.
There’s another presence, although constitutionally barred from interference, who will exert enormous influence on the outcome. King Charles III.
Do not be fooled by the loser-look in his eyes on Coronation Day, or the continuing phantom presence of Lady Di. This guy is going to scale down the economic liability of the royal family – he’s been a champion of this for years. He’s also already decided he’s not going to be a defender of the faith but a defender of faith, period. As an official statement of ideological tolerance and respect, this is big. Very big. And the more he preaches sustainability as a choice of the heart rather than a legislated necessity, the more he’s going to be heard and acknowledged.
In short, he’s going to be a people’s king. And in this now semi-socialist atmosphere, his subjects will probably decide that the political oligopoly which now characterises the Conservatives, isn’t it their best interests at all. (Just to be nonpartisan, I’m not a big fan of where the Labour Party is at the moment, either.)
The Curse of Living in Interesting Times
So there you have it. A country in a mess because of an abuse of technology by those in power. An increase in the sophistication of AI matched only by an increase in sophistication of how it can be manipulated. And a king whom I believe will surprise us all.
The next few years will be, if you’ll forgive me, a battle royal.
I acknowledge that my viewpoints are not bulletproof and that
a myriad of logical arguments could negate much of what is written here.
My defence is, what do I know? I’m just the man in the street.
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