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Of Crises, Constitutionalism and Irresponsible Advisers
Author(s) -
Mclean Iain,
Peterson Scot
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the political quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.373
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1467-923X
pISSN - 0032-3179
DOI - 10.1111/1467-923x.12985
Subject(s) - dismissal , abdication , constitutionalism , politics , political science , law , prime minister , constitutional crisis , public administration , democracy
Permanent private secretaries to the monarch are not elected, nor are they chosen on civil service criteria. They also have no formal legal training, despite the fact that their advice can be vital during constitutional crises. We test Ivor Jennings's claim that private secretaries serve as ‘irresponsible advisers’ to the Crown, who may have influence in political disputes, and whether that influence may serve political interests. Four case studies include the Home Rule crisis, 1910–14; Edward VIII's abdication; the election of 1950; and the dismissal of Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.