The National Anthem

I liked the questions devorgilla posed. The origins and conduct of the royal family throughout the centuries would probably not make comfortable reading - as she suggested, their power and access to resources, were likely to have been seized by force.

I didn't know much about the functions of the Privy Council but, from what I've read, it is a forum by means of which senior politicians and the leader of the opposition are briefed and allowed sight of important cabinet papers which they would otherwise not have access to. It is necessary to take the oath so as to be part of the Privy Council and it seems to me that, in order to be fully informed, Jeremy Corbyn has no alternative but to take it. The disgrace, I feel, is that he or anyone else would be forced to do so if they wish to carry out their jobs properly.

These forced acts of allegiance have been seen, and continue to be seen, throughout the world in all manner of regimes. They exist in order for those in power to entrench that power and compel others to yield to it - in the same way that Henry VIII made his subjects take an oath of allegiance to him as head of the Church of England. Fortunately, these days we do not have beheadings but we do have the threat of exclusion from the seats of power and influence to enforce conformity.

jingle I think to refer to Jeremy Corbyn - 66 years old and a much respected MP with 30 years' committed political service and an impeccable expenses record - as "this little upstart" is I think unnecessarily unpleasant.

Didn't cause me any offence, whitewave. I thought it was funny...

People seem to have forgotten that Corbyn's views on things like nationalisation and progressive taxation were mainstream before the 1980s. He's not wanting to turf out the aristos and give everyone an acre and a cow. He just wants a rather more equitable distribution of the wealth that everyone who is working has created. And to stop wasting money on such useless things as Trident.

I think his want for changes go deeper than that.

I actually -seriously- do wonder though as both my son and grandsons have been diagnosed dyslexic - to a greater or l esser extent and all have had special help - with great success I might add. Son and GS 1 are good at science and maths, gs2 too young to know yet!

No soon not change the country just the politics which say there is no alternative to austerity. There is no alternative to the old fashion economics adopted by this government. There is no alternative to introducing privatisation to the NHS. There is no alternative to the way we house our poorest. There is no alternative to the way we run our rail system. There is no alternative to going to war. There is no alternative but to buy Trident at sickening cost. There is no alternative to the way we are treating the world's ecological systems. And on and on. The T ory party is not the country, merely a political party in power at this time, and one which will eventually be history like all the others.

My spelling is getting bad with age too.

I do think though that the National Anthem needs rejigging at least.

If the hereditary monarch did not exist today, I would vote for one, yes.

Does JC have love and pride for Britain I wonder? Any parts/all parts? He seems to want to change a lot of it.

No jing just a comment. I can't spell at all and getting worse as I get older, but sooooo rude of people I wouldn't dream of doing that - so not done!!!!!!

No offence caused.

Dyslexia?

I am not seeing "reds under the beds". (perhaps just seeing one on the front bench of the Opposition).

Oh dear! my dyslexia rears its head yet again - sorry folks for causing offence.

Do you think that anyone really thinks about the queen when they sing the National Anthem? Isn't it a way of honouring our country more than anything? I think it is.

It makes JC seem practically a Communist! (Are we sure he's not?)

So he did! Some things are best forgotten

Yes, but he served for three successive terms as PM don't forget, merlot...

The thing is, he's not in power. He has almost five years to put his money where his mouth is (or words to that effect) Opinions can change. Tony Blair was hailed a hero when he stormed into No 10 and look what happened to him.

While we're at it, another tweet from an evil L winger about the Conservatives:

As a tribute to all who gave their lives in WWII, we're going to dismantle the welfare state they inspired while singing God Save The Queen.

No, I wouldn't prefer that, Tegan

Well said trisher!

Perhaps, Ana you would prefer it if someone just did a link to Cameron saying it instead....would that be acceptable? Or maybe it should only be mentioned each time someone mentions 'duffle coats'......

I couldn't give a flying f--k if he sings the National Anthem or not. Nor I suspect do the majority of the people who voted for him because he spoke honestly and openly about the problems of ordinary people. The fact is that he stands for things which are fundamentally good, is caring and honest and speaks from the heart. Obviously most people know his ideas are right and in order to attack him they pick on silly trivialities like him not singing. I'd rather have someone in power who doesn't sing the National Anthem than someone who smiles and mouths platitudes whilst making the poorest and weakest suffer more.

A cross between 'gasbag' and 'old git' perhaps?

I will be (slightly) disappointed if he does sing the National Anthem at future events. I just don't think it is that big an issue. However, it could open up a whole new job opportunity. At every occasion where the National Anthem is sung you could employ people to video every British subject to see if they are singing. If they aren't we could shame them instantly in the press or social media and devise suitable punishments.

I thought 'gasgit' was somehow much more appropriate

Congratulations on coining a new word, whitewave