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During the twentieth century the monarchy became more popular than ever before. George V, the grandson of Victoria, had attended the first football Cup Final match at Wembley Stadium, and royal attendance became an annual event.
On Christmas Day, 1932, he used the new BBC radio service to speak to all peoples of the Commonwealth and the empire. His broadcast was enormously popular, and began a tradition. In 1935 George V celebrated his Silver Jubilee, and drove through crowded streets of cheering people in the poorest parts of London. “I’d no idea they felt like that about me,” he said, “I’m beginning to think they must really like me for myself.” To his own great surprise, George V had become a “people’s king”.
However, in 1936 the monarchy experienced a serious crisis when George V’s son, Edward VIII, gave up the throne in order to marry a divorced woman. Divorce was still strongly disapproved of at that time, and the event showed how public opinion now limited the way the royal family could act in private life. At the time it caused much discussion, and has remained a matter for heated argument.
During the Second World War George VI, Edward’s brother, became greatly loved for his visits to the bombed areas of Britain. He and his wife were admired for refusing to leave Buckingham Palace even after it also had been bombed. Since 1952, when Elizabeth II became queen, the monarchy has steadily increased in popularity. Nevertheless, during the last two decades of the twentieth century, various material problems in the queen’s family lowered the prestige of royalty in many people’s eyes. The one aspect of the monarchy about which most people feel negative is how much it costs, because all the expenses connected with the royal family are expected to be paid by the people.
Despite these facts, the monarchy remains popular nowadays. The monarch is believed to be the highest institution, a final check which controls the policy of Parliament and the Government.
Modern Parliament
Nowadays Parliament examines what the Government is doing, makes new laws, holds the power to set taxes and debates the issues of the day. The House of Commons and House of Lords each play an important role in Parliament's work.
The business of Parliament takes place in the Palace of Westminster (a.k.a. “The Houses of Parliament”). There are two Houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Their work is similar: making laws (legislation), checking the work of the government (scrutiny), and debating current issues. The House of Commons is also responsible for granting money to the government through approving Bills that raise taxes. Generally, the decisions made in one House have to be approved by the other. In this way the two-chamber system acts as a check and balance for both Houses.
The Commons
The Commons is publicly elected. The party with the largest number of members in the Commons forms the government.
Members of the Commons (MPs) debate the big political issues of the day and proposals for new laws. It is one of the key places where government ministers, like the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, and the principal figures of the main political parties, work.
The House of Commons alone is responsible for making decisions on financial Bills, such as proposed new taxes. The Lords can consider these Bills but cannot block or amend them.
The Lords
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament, it complements the work of the House of Commons. It makes laws, holds government to account and investigates policy issues. Its membership is mostly appointed and includes experts in many fields.
Speaking about the membership of the House of Lords, until 1958 all of the Lords were indeed aristocrats. Then a law was passed which made it possible to award “life peerages” through the honours system. These gave people entitlement to sit in the Lords but not the children of these people. Often people who want to continue their career in politics but are too old to be as active and busy as MPs find a place in the House of Lords.
Political parties are, in fact, especially keen to send their older members who once belonged to the leadership of the party to the House of Lords. Informally, this practice has become known as “being kicked upstairs”.
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