Wednesday, February 09, 2005

I Adore The British Theatre

The General Elections will soon be upon us, here in the UK. How do I know? Our Members of Parliament (MPs for short) are acting even sillier than is their norm. One does not have to journey to Stratford-Upon-Avon or London’s West End to see good theatre; the current performances playing at Westminster more than aptly fills the playbill.

The flinging of accusations regarding political dirty tricks, by and at the Tory, Lib Dem, and Labour parties, far exceeds a good Keystone Kops pie fight.

To distract the British public away from hot button issues like the war in Iraq, the economy, national health care, immigration, membership in the EU, and even foxhunting, the MPs have decided to question the Queen and the Prince of Wales about their respective financial portfolios. The Royals are not being questioned about their official state incomes from the tax-payer supported Civil List. Instead, certain MPs are inquiring about income derived from centuries-old private holdings; specifically the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall, and if the Royals are investing their money wisely.

The investigating committee has also expressed concern that the Prince of Wales might be paying the living expenses of his long-time mistress, Camilla Parker-Bowles, out of his own pocket. It gives one a very warm feeling to know that our MPs are so concerned about the Royal Family’s financial well being and not doing something as caddish as keeping one’s mistress in the style that she has grown accustomed.

I guess it could be worse. The short campaign period here in Great Britain could last as long as the year and a half campaign season that exists back in the U.S.

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