The British constitution is, in the famous phrase used by Andrew Marvell in his Horatian Ode on Cromwell’s Return from Ireland, "the great work of time", something that "restless" Cromwell "ruins". Marvell actually admired Cromwell, and supported his Commonwealth, but his poem betrays a sympathy with the past and a suppressed shudder at the thought of violent and rapid change. Now let us be clear that David Cameron, in wishing to make constitutional changes which will affect the succession and indeed the monarchy itself, is no Oliver Cromwell. Not in the least. Cromwell was a man of principle, deep faith, and immense vision. Cameron is more like Tony Blair, a Prime Minister addicted to constitutional tinkering. We still do not know what the effects of the devolution legislation will mean for the United Kingdom – it is far too early to tell – but there is little solid evidence that Blair undertook these potentially profound moves for anything other than short term political gain. What about Cameron’s proposed changes to the Act of Succession, and the other pieces of legislation that underpin our enduring constitutional settlement? Why is he doing this? The Daily Telegraph reports: