The Bitch is Back

Is the UK heading back into royal control, directly? It is increasingly likely, given that the Tory lead over Labour has slipped to only 5-6 percent (or less) in the polls, that there will be a hung Parliament in the next election, where neither party has a majority of seats to govern. If that occurs (the last time was 1974), then the Bitch steps center stage and becomes a major factor in making a new Prime Minister.

Already, the "golden triangle" of Britain's most senior civil servants and courtiers is meeting to prepare a dossier of advice to the Queen on what steps she might consider. Sir Gus O'Donnell, the cabinet secretary, has distributed secret memos compiled by the Prime Minister's private secretary in March, 1974, Robert Armstrong, as a guide for discussion by the "golden triangle." The memos are also being avidly studied at No. 10 Downing Street.

The memos make clear that in the event of a hung Parliament today, the following possibilities exist:

1) Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown would be able to remain Prime Minister if the Tories won but failed to secure a majority, while Brown attempts to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. However, the Liberal Democrats have indicated that they do not want to form a coalition government with either the Tories or Labour. In this case, the Queen would not have to do anything more, but wait for Brown's resignation.

2) The Bitch could call on someone other than Brown or Tory Party leader David Cameron to form a government. This is seen in No. 10 as "the Miliband option," referring to the selection of Foreign Secretary David Miliband, whom the party considers the successor to Brown. However, this possibility is remote, because the Liberal Democrats would be no more likely to form a coalition with Miliband, than with Brown.

3) The Bitch could refuse to dissolve the Parliament, even if Brown requested that she do so. The Bitch would then, after a short period, call for new elections.

All this and more is under consideration by the "golden circle" advising the Bitch, who has already appointed two Prime Ministers, early in her reign.