We should beware unelected bodies censuring our politicians.
I have heard it said that one of the great symbols of democratic government is the sight of a removal van outside Number 10 Downing Street. Ours is still, more or less, an era of peace, freedom and plenty. This means we easily lose sight of how remarkable it is that the chief executive of our government, who manages tens of thousands of armed men and is constantly attended by sycophants and police bodyguards, can be turfed out, literally overnight. Admittedly we have not had a PM ejected as a result of a loss at the ballot box since David Cameron in 2016; all three prime ministerial casualties since then have been knifed by the reliably regicidal Tory backbenches. Nevertheless, whether the Order of the Boot, First Class, is awarded by the people directly via a general election, or by their representatives via a palace coup, the lesson is the same.
