Advisory Councils: Then and Now

I was reading the BBC History magazine the other month and there was an interesting feature on Oliver Cromwell.

Here was a man who overthrew a "despot" king, a man who defended parliament etc. etc.

Yet here too was a man who became Lord High protector, all but king except for the title.

He was crowned as such - in all but coronation in name.

His title was handed down to his son... further proving he was all but king in name.

Who do we know in nationalist politics who overthrew his erstwhile boss - in the name of democracy, the people and all that [to quote Xaphod Beeblebrox!] - who he painted as a tyrant... only to take the same powers and rule with the same iron rod?

But the similarities deepen dear friends.

For Cromwell, like the latest patriot Lord Protector, also had an advisory panel set up.

This was the interesting part that I learned from the BBC History mag, for it was clear that whenever things went well Cromwell - as THE big cheese - took all the glory. Yet when things went pear shaped it was his wont to blame the advisory panel with the usual excuses.

The advisors were all yes-men and sycophants and anyone who went against the Big Yin would, of course, be out on their arse... and so the advisory council did whatever Cromwell told them to do, what was essential for the good of the realm etc.

Yet whilst the council's decisions were Cromwell's - he was able to step back and blame them, or blame being held back by their decisions if things didn't go well.

Hmmmmm.

Whoever said the more things change, the more they stay the same...?