And I mean that quite literally. From the Guardian -
"A 165-year-old law that threatens anyone calling for the abolition of the monarchy with life imprisonment is technically still in force – after the Ministry of Justice admitted wrongly announcing that it had been repealed...
The Ministry of Justice said: "Section 3 of the Treason Felony Act 1848 has not been repealed."...
That means in theory that to "imagine" overthrowing the Crown or waging war against the Queen, as the wording of the act describes, could still result in a life sentence."
Merely 'imagining' it is enough? Having been brought up a Catholic, that reminds me a bit of the doctrine that having 'impure thoughts' is just as sinful as actually doing the deed. Now, I don't know about you, but I find that while I may be able to control my actions, my thoughts are rather resistant to that form of discipline. Which begs the obvious question - if you're going to be deemed as bad a criminal/sinner anyway, why not just go the whole hog? Let's do it now - let's overthrow the Queen!
Count me in.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Roman Catholic hierarchy?
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I committed a grave crime on the Guardian site.
ReplyDeleteI called for the abolition of the monarchy out loud and proud.
Of course, I'm not sure that the Treason and Felony Act is legal in Scotland; there usually being some sort of (Scotland) appendage to English laws applicable here.
But if it is, and they haul me off to the tower and throw away the key, do you think I will get a postal vote for the referendum?
Well, as Westminster are brazenly defying the European Court of Human Rights on prisoners' voting rights, almost certainly not! But you might get £4.25 compensation if you go to Strasbourg after the fact...
ReplyDeleteAt least we now know why the broadcasters fawned so absurdly over the Jubilee, Royal Wedding, and birth of Prince George - it was all on pain of life imprisonment.
s.3 is still in force in relation to Scotland, England and Wales.
ReplyDeleteThe editor of the Guardian has previously asked the English courts to clarify whether the act criminalises the promotion of republicanism through peaceful means.
The court essentially said that no one would be prosecuted, the act isn't ECHR compliant in any event and not to worry.
A link to a synopsis of the Guardian case here:
http://www.1cor.com/1315/?form_1155.replyids=473
Ach, I don't care whether it's illegal or not, let's do it anyway!
ReplyDeleteOver on Racistbetting.com a Scotland thread where everybody argues they couldn't care less and then post the same scaremongering racist old drivel again and again.
ReplyDeleteEncouraged of course by actual traitors. People who work to destroy the country they claim to be so proud of. Vermit!
I'm relieved to see that Stuart, Mick, Malcolm and TheUnionDivvie were all on hand for that thread - they were still hopelessly outnumbered by bigots, of course, but the quality of their arguments shone through.
ReplyDeleteI would love to contact this outfit to ask them to arrest me, but would their jurisdiction in this matter cover Scotland? I'm only asking because I'm not sure on fine points of law.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Iain