The English Constitution

"Bagehot was the first person to try to explain the recent evolution of the non-political, constitutional monarchy—what I sometimes call the ‘sentimental monarchy’ because of the part played by Queen Victoria and her promotion of respectable, family life. One hundred years before Bagehot, the monarchy was embroiled in all sorts of political conflicts and personal scandals. Victoria changed that with a style and with instincts that were remarkably close to those of Queen Elizabeth II. Both women displayed the same sense of duty and willingness to subordinate themselves. Bagehot identified the way the monarchy had undergone this sea change, and was now the impartial referee and the dignified symbol of what people could agree upon in national life. One of the interesting things about Queen Victoria is that in later years, if she couldn’t be bothered to go and open Parliament herself, she would just send the crown on a cushion. This symbolised her understanding that the crown was above everything including herself. I think that same sort of essential modesty was the reason for Queen Elizabeth II’s success. She spent the first 10 years of her life as part of the royal family but with no idea that she would one day come to the throne. So while she developed a great seriousness and respect for the monarchy, her head was never turned. I think her modesty and self-effacement are major reasons for her enduring popularity. Yes. Her father was the Duke of York—a title that is traditionally given to a younger son of the king. So to begin with she had no chance of succession."

"Before I went into the House of Lords, I used to write ‘Bagehot’, The Economist’s weekly column on British politics. I am therefore biased when I recommend, as the finest book on the subject ever written, The English Constitution by Walter Bagehot, a Victorian editor of the magazine. Of course, it is a bit quaint now from the title on: if you talked of the English constitution in Glasgow or Cardiff you would be strung from a lamp-post. But though the subject has moved on, some of Walter’s concepts are eternally useful. The ‘dignified’ bit of the constitution then referred to the monarchy and the ‘efficient’ bit to parliament. Today it is parliament that is largely dignified, the efficient bit being the leader columns of The Sun and the Daily Mail. What, however, has not dated at all is the style and the verve: a great journalist in action as well as a great brain and today insufficiently read."