Will Blair Care?

Her Majesty looks amused, possibly because she'll get the last laugh. It's said, within Royal circles that she's so annoyed about indiscretions revealed in Tony Blair's new book, she plans to withhold granting him an exclusive honour. The former Prime Minister was in line to be appointed to the Order of the Thistle, the highest Scottish honour. Leaders of Scottish descent are almost automatically given the honour after leaving office.

Considering Tony Blair has 'moved on' from the land of his birth, I doubt if he'll be too upset, but then again, such a title would open many more doors for him (and his divine wife Cherie of course), so perhaps he may feel slightly embarrassed.

The Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, said she was sure the 84-year-old monarch would be 'disappointed' at Blair's decision to breach Royal protocol by revealing personal conversations in the Queen's home. It's just etiquette in elite social circles and it's not etiquette in this house either, but then I'm particular as to whom is welcomed here. The Queen is not in a position to be choosy.

For Blair life is about fame and fortune and he's acquired both, by fair means or foul. The renowned Royal biographer Hugo Vikers said last night: "You know when the Queen respects a Prime Minister. She awarded Margaret Thatcher the Order of Merit as soon as she left office." Ouch. It's only three years since Blair resigned so I should think there's still time for her to bestow her gratitude. Wonder when Gordon Brown will called to Holyrood to receive his Order of the Thistle?

I hope the above information answers Leg Iron's question about the Queen's lack of action in connection with 'Tony the Teeth'. Beheading is not longer legal I believe and a Royal snub lasts a lifetime.

Update: According to Sky News Blair is reconsidering attending his book signing in central London after the protests in Dublin. Facing his accusers isn't his strong point is it?

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Cameron Shrinks in India

The Queen inspecting the 1st Battalion Cameronians

at Holyrood 1950/60s

I watched David Cameron inspecting the Guard of Honour during his visit to India and found his performance disappointing. He looked extremely uncomfortable; as if he wished he was anywhere but there. Possibly that's not too far from the truth. He appeared to shrink in stature as he attempted to refrain from making a run for it. (I've tried hard to find a video clip with David Cameron inspecting the guard of honour in India but no news outlets have one).

'It really is time to give politicians some basic training in the courtesies of such inspections'. Indeed it is. The suggestion that HRH, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh could lead the training is excellent. It could turn out to be a nice wee earner for Her Majesty's purse too. HRH Training Ltd has a pleasant ring to it don't you think?

As part of the training from royalty, a few 6am's on the parade ground at Catterick should be included in the induction. Just as a warm up. I'm sure HM Forces will be too happy to help out HRH in her project. Our politicians need to learn how to walk the walk as well as talk the talk and do the walking with some dignity.

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MSPs Snub Their Own Parliament

I have to admit I noticed the rows of empty desks during the official celebrations in the Scottish Parliament yesterday. It seems 48 MSPs decided to stay away and ignore the event.

Magnus Linklater puts it succinctly - 'What a lamentable affair.' Very true indeed. These absentees should be named and shamed. They have their jobs because the public voted them into office (well some of them; others crept in by the back door).

I'm no ardent royalist, but to ignore such an occasion when our 83 year old Queen and her 89 year old husband took the trouble to attend, is downright bad manners. MSPs have no excuse as they knew of yesterday's ceremony as long ago as last October with an update on arrangements issued at the start of April this year.

Of the individual parties 26 out of 47 SNP MSPs were present, labour had 29 out of 46 there, the tories had 13 out of 16 and the libdems 11 out of 16. One of two Green MSPs turned up but the sole independent MSP did not.

Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP, admitted that she had stayed away because of her republican sympathies. She said, "I had no intention of being there and I made my position clear before the event. I do not want to be seen as a hypocrite. I do not believe in the aristocracy running our country."

Ms Grahame, until we have legislation to the contrary, you should conform to the wishes of your electorate and I do hope they're not impressed with your behaviour on this occasion. Of course party spokesmen are verbose with their excuses with one saying, "They were further eight who had already booked their holidays as the Parliament is in recess and it was before we were notified about the Queen's visit." Rubbish. I don't believe eight booked their holidays 8 months in advance.

Some 10 year old children travelled from as far afield as Canada, the US and Germany yet a third of our representatives refused to attend. What a disgrace and a sad day for Scottish politics.

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Brown's Snub to the Queen

Sometimes if I waken in the night I listen to TalkSport, mainly for its soporific value, but on occasion the main topic is quite interesting.  That was the case yesterday morning when Mike Graham's anger was evident.  What was his topic?  The fact that the Queen has not been invited to the 65th commemorations of the D-Day Landings.

He strongly felt that Gordon Brown had acted improperly by ignoring the Royal Family.  As I said in this post, protocol requires the government to invite royalty to such occasions.  No such invitation has been received by Buckingham Palace.

It has been said that Mr Sarkozy wanted the event to be primarily a Franco-American ceremony. Once Mr Brown heard this he ought to have contacted Mr Sarkozy and informed him that British and Canadian forces were the majority and he must include a royal representative from Britain.  It has been reported France said it was not up to France to determine the British representation.  Then, if you remember, when France announced Barack Obama would be present, Gordon Brown decided he would attend.

As some of you may know, I'm not an avid royalist but I am a fervent support of HM Forces and those few remaining veterans who will be attending this ceremony are of a generation which hold the Queen in the highest regard.  That is why I think she should have been invited.

Gordon Brown has proved himself to be possibly the worst PM in history but he'll certainly also be recorded as the least diplomatic.  We pay a fortune for him to have advisers - what do they do for their massive salaries?

Update:  After the intervention of the White House, it now appears Prince Charles will attend and represent the Queen.  Now Brown needs the help of the US with his basic PR.  Shameful.

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Petition to the Queen

Craig Murray has organised a petition to the Queen asking her to dissolve Parliament.  Please sign it here.

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A FIRST FOR HER MAJESTY

Mervyn King's appearance at the Treasury Select Committee yesterday has been widely reported in today's press.  His main message was that spending must be kept under control.

What hasn't been so widely reported is that after the hearing at the House of Commons, Mr King visited Buckingham Palace, at the Queen's invitation, for a private audience.  It was the first such audience with a Bank of England Governor in her 57 year reign.

The Queen must be very concerned about the state of the UK to send for Mr King.  Ted Foam has his view of the future and he may not be too far off the mark.

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