In the
dismantling of the United
Kingdom , one major devolution verging on
independence has occurred that few care to admit, if only because it has
happened by accident. As most of the
British Constitution in its present form represents a chapter of accidents this
is not surprising, only difficult to understand.
May I call
this new devolved entity, almost a state in its own right, “Borisovia” to
recognise the man who realised the dream and enabled London
to rise again to an independence and power it lost with the end of the Hanseatic League .
In doing
so, we must cast aside any examples of the past of great cities that have been
a nation or the seat of Empire in their own right. Rome
is the example most often cited, but this would only confuse and distort the
story.
But because
this transition has occurred with notice or indeed any positive action by the UK government and only through laxity and
stupidity it would be wrong to retain the name “London ” as then the weight of history would
weigh too hard. A new name is needed for
its new future.
The reality
now is that Borisovia has passed out of the direct and effective control of the
Westminster
government. That Westminster
is a part of London
is another accident but that could be redressed.
With the Palace of Westminster due for closure for repairs
it would be easy to locate our legacy Parliament, along with the major
Departments of State to one of those collections of commercial sheds in a
provincial town that is doing little business.
Borisovia
is a state without a nationality. It has
230 official languages and a collection of subsidiary authorities that have
become more subordinate to the Mayor and the Greater London Council than to Westminster . There are few, if any, that have any
distinctive ethnic group although the balance can vary widely.
It has its
own transport system and is able to demand from Westminster , its vassal state whatever it
demes necessary for not just the movement of people, but for the creation of
rental increases along their path.
Despite
having one railway line to Birmingham ,
with both very fast and slower trains and another with a good service, it is
able to order up a new High Speed Line for the benefit of its own elite.
Also,
despite being frustrated by fussy foot dragging at Westminster , there is little doubt that
Borisovia will get the major airport hub it wants within its own boundaries and
on its own terms. In defining what
“economic growth” might be or calculated it is Borisovia that decides how and
what should be done.
The key
reason for the independence of Borisovia is its critical hold over the UK
financial systems, which extend across the Atlantic Isles and by fiat over the
remnants of the old British Empire which house all it subsidiary financial
organisations that take care of so much of our wealth.
One source
of error is to suppose that the forces of law and order and local authorities
exert much authority. The reality is
that this is in the hands of other groups presided over by The Mayor and his
henchmen and women.
They are
protected by draconian privacy arrangements through super injunctions available
by telephone on request to special judges.
The application of law and order is discretionary and largely in the
hands of the most influential individuals.
Essentially,
control is exerted by a “gang” system.
For example Kensington and Chelsea is controlled by the Gulf gang, the
Petrolheads, and the Russian gang, called the Gasheads.
In other
places there are complex gang roupings that control all the major money flows
from the usual activities channelled through the many major money laundries
available adjacent and near to County Hall.
The Mayor
is most anxious to protect them and to bolster their sources of wealth. Although he has great powers he does not
control the money flows and has to defer to those who do. This wealth is one of the greatest
concentrations in the world which accounts for he newly gained independence of
Borisovia.
Travellers
to Borisovia are delighted by the chatter of many tongues and all the quaint
customs. On the underground there are
groups of conjurers who can whisk away your wallets, mobiles and other
possessions without you even noticing.
There are all the enchanting beggars to whom you are obliged to give
alms, or else.
At present,
you do not need a passport or indeed any documents at all. The forest of CCTV
cameras with backup digital sources mean you do not have to worry. All you have to do is pay and keep paying.
At present
Borisovia remains a part of the UK ,
if only because it sends so many to Parliament and has so many others in its
service in attendance there. If anything
it is not the UK
that is sovereign over Borisovia, it is quite the other way round.
Previously known as the "People's Republic of Kenovia"!
ReplyDeleteOn reflection maybe that should have been the "Islamic Republic of Kenistan"!
ReplyDeleteMaybe Borisovia should have its own currency too. Not a physical currency of course, in these sophisticated times, but something more ephemeral based on biodegradable plastic cards loosely linked to complex offshore activities.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of us could stick with sterling.