Britain, Brexit, Lexit, Remain, the EU and Democracy

There are some points being raised in the EU Referendum, which need some explanation, to clarify for people new or unfamiliar with United Kingdom. 

Is Britain a democracy? 

The UK is not a democracy but a Constitutional Monarchy, where Queen Elizabeth 2nd is the head of state, as appointed by God and has the power to remove a Prime Minister. All Governments across the UK and the Commonwealth are “Her Majesty’s Government”. 

The UK Government does not have an Army, as members of the British Armed Forces sign an Oath to serve the Queen and the sovereign integrity of the country. The same applies to the UK’s Police Force who “solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable”. 

Does the UK have a “bureaucracy”? 

The everyday functions of “Her Majesty’s Government” across the United Kingdom is run by the British Civil Service. Irrespective of which political party is voted in, Socialist, Liberal or Conservative, the Civil Service does not change and is not a body which is voted in to position. 

Civil Servants run the country’s everyday affairs, from health to the intelligence services, and are called upon on a daily basis, to advise MP’s, the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet (opposition in Government) along with giving advice to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in matters relating to the state. 

Do British people have 

“Rights” in the United Kingdom? The United Kingdom does not have a constitution which guarantees rights to the citizen or subject, because the UK is neither a republic or dictatorship. The Constitutional element of the UK being a “Constitutional Monarchy” defines the relationship between Monarch and Parliament. 

The people of the United Kingdom are safeguarded by a series of laws, which have been established over a period of many years but laws have also been changed, such as when the United Kingdom abolished the death penalty. 

For a better insight into the British legal system and the relationships between Monarch, Government and citizen please see Magna Carta, an introduction by the British Library

by Hussein Al-alak, editor of Iraq Solidarity News (Al-Thawra)

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