Category: Journalism

This week Bosco Santimano  shares his thoughts on why and how did this outdated system of a monarchy survive into the 21st century? Do the English really know the true costs of hanging on to a medieval system of governance in a democracy?

The Queen has been laid to rest and the people have gone back to being blindly led once again by an institution that can only be described as decadent, lavish, greedy and above the law in this the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen is dead! Long live the King! For a moment it felt like I was transported back in time to medieval Britain, where a clear, privileged and defined hierarchy ruled these islands. Nothing much has really changed since those glory days of Great Britannia! The general public are still in awe of this racist and colonial institution, oblivious to its past history of murder, looting and genocide in all its colonies. This institution is alone responsible for the murder and killing of over 100 million innocent civilians in their former colonies including India and the indigenous populations of America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

This ‘achievement ‘is conveniently excluded from their history books taught at schools and other educational institutions. That’s why it comes as no surprise when well-meaning, “educated” Brits are shocked at any view or opinion that says otherwise. The queen is looked upon as God, to be fair she is the equivalent of the Roman Catholic Pope, being self-appointed the Head of the Church of England. The trappings of the Monarchy are imbedded in every aspect of British society and culture and by royal decree laws are made and changed while Prime Ministers are appointed and sacked. All in what the British believe is a functioning democracy where one family holds sway over all.

The much loved “Great Britain” name tag will go soon, along with the Monarchy and the establishment who have ruled and maximised their wealth for centuries at the expense of the poor and working classes on this island and around the world during colonisation. Even during the Empire days citizens on these islands were living in squalor and abject poverty.

Many people want to go back to the glory days of this country, where rivers were flowing with milk and honey and the “we are the good guys” image which is so conditioned and brainwashed into the minds of British psyche from early childhood. Accurate history is not taught in this country but a very sanitised, pleasant version of it, mainly focusing on the grandeur of the monarchy for diversions and World War II.

This nation removed the kings and queens of the lands it conquered through deceit in the name of bringing democracy to the world but is still hanging on to its outdated traditions! A beacon of democracy which conveniently does not have a written constitution. Such hypocrisy! But why are we still so gullible and can’t see the obvious truth of where the power lies in this nation? Many people I personally know, support this outdated practice and institution and the cost to us the tax payers. These very same individuals slam people on benefits, migrants and foodbanks, but are happy to give millions away to the queen and the extended royal family all in the name of tradition or a tourist attraction! This always proved my point that education does not necessarily mean you are aware or informed but conditioned to believe in an obvious lie. People want to go back to the glory days of empire without fully understanding the true meaning of this statement. This country is responsible for all the major flashpoints around the world today. That’s the legacy of the empire and the monarchy, having committed mass genocide, looting of resources and cultural decimation from which these countries are yet to recover.

Politicians who get elected see themselves as servants to the queen not the electorate who voted them in the first place. They take an oath to protect the queen (now king! And their heirs and successors!) Unbelievable! They then go about maintaining the status quo at the expense of people dying because of benefit cuts, food banks or parents having to starve in order to feed their children.

It’s time for action and it already looks like the new King will not have an easy ride like his mother the “Beloved Queen”. Here is hoping that real change finally comes to the land that decimated countries around the world in what is known as its glory days of empire where the sun did not set; but now has too, in order to move forward as a truly democratic nation.

*Originally written & published online on WION.

Having moved to Peebles in 2002, ‘Stooriefit’ Bosco Santimano gives us his own take on what he feels is the hot topic of the day. This week once again it’s Tory sleaze and corruption.

What a roller coaster of a few weeks with sleaze and corruption back on the agenda thanks to the current ruling administration at Westminster. Our very own Tory MP David Mundell voted in the house of commons to protect his corrupt fellow MP Owen Paterson from being suspended. What the Tory party tried to do was not only defend the indefensible but use their majority to bring forward legislation that would allow Owen Paterson to go scot-free and avoid the 30-day suspension handed to him by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and Independent body setup to regulate MP’s conduct and behaviour along with overseeing the Register of Members Financial Interests.
Ex-Environment Secretary Owen Paterson had been facing a 30-day suspension from the Commons after the Standards Committee found he repeatedly used his position as an MP to promote two companies that paid him a combined £112,000 a year. MPs voted on November 3rd on an amendment tabled by Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom. The amendment blocked Owen Paterson’s recommended 30-day suspension from the House of Commons for ‘egregious’ rule breaches. It agreed to instead set up a committee reviewing the Commons standards procedure after Mr Paterson – who denied wrongdoing – branded the process flawed. This was a lie as Owen was given the opportunity to defend himself throughout the process. Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg then decided to undermine our democracy by trying to hijack our parliament once again! Even the right-wing press were appalled and finally took a stand.

What this incident has done is highlighted the ‘second job’ scam run by Tory MP’s that have been using parliamentary access, resources and privileges to make millions for themselves and their family, donors and friends. I have systematically highlighted this in my previous columns. MP Geoffrey Cox was working from a tax haven while working for the government of the British Virgin Islands! Sir Geoffrey has earned more than £5m in his second job since becoming an MP while working part-time for his constituency! The same applies to another Tory MP Natalie Elphicke who once suggested that Marcus Rashford the footballer should stick to his day job while it was revealed that she earns £36,000 as chair of the New Homes Quality Board, an independent watchdog for new-build houses.

It seems nobody really cares, at least here in our own constituency. Like Thatcher in the 80’s, Boris has slammed the final nail in the coffin of the Conservative & Unionist party in the UK. It’s time to get rid of them locally too and make Scotland an Independent nation where we can finally have our own written constitution and laws that will help our new country be equal, prosperous and fair to all.

Published in The Peeblesshire News on Friday 26th November 2021