Why a free society needs the rule of law and independent courts.

A free society needs more than the ballot box to function.

Anyone who imagines that a society which practices either direct democracy or representative democracy cannot be a tyranny needs only to look at the present governments of Russia or Turkey, at how Hitler or Mussolini came to power in the 20th century, or to read Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War.

Only the rule of law and independent courts can stop a democracy from sometimes acting as the tyranny of the 51%.

John McDonnell. who wanted to lock up his political opponents and, when asked under what law, said he might have to invent one, will not now be Chancellor of this country. But he is one of too many people who think like Roper in Robert Bolt's play, "A man for all seasons."

And while there are men (and women) like that in British politics, on all sides, we need laws and strong independent courts to enforce them, as explained by Sir Thomas More in the play, here brilliantly depicted by Paul Scofield.

Comments

Paul Holdsworth said…
Reassuring post, Chris. And I do understand why you choose to be oblique with your criticism of Priti Patel. But eventually, true Conservatives like you will have to be much more outspoken about the multiple wrong turnings your party has taken, and is set to take in future, if we are to avoid permanent damage to those independent institutions on which our democracy stands.
9:27 am
Paul Holdsworth said…
Indeed, your criticism was so oblique I guessed at the wrong target. You meant to coyly point the finger at Suella Braverman, didn't you?
My apologies.
10:02 am
Paul Holdsworth said…
Then again, maybe you meant Patel AND Braverman.
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/priti-patel-delays-publication-windrush-eu-citizens-report-anti-terror-laws-1766590
12:49 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
I had no particular target in mind. There are too many people in journalism and on all sides of politics who are all too prone to accuse judges who make a ruling that they do not like of being "enemies of the people."
10:20 pm
Paul Holdsworth said…
"I had no particular target in mind" - yeah, right!
7:50 am
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