Originally Posted by
racedo
Explain Iraq war then.
When a world event such as the twin towers attack occurs, then the British system of Government (which does not have a written constitution) can expect all parties to support the government of the day in the best interest of the British people.
That is why when this type of situation arises, dissenters can record their dissatisfaction with all parties without fear of terminal consequences. Having had a conversation with George Bush where he committed to act in concert with the Americans, together with Germany's Schroeder and France's Jacques Chirac, and having suffered a poke in the ribs by Alistair Campbell, the die was cast. As you suggest, democracy and the oppositions position got shoved into the background in the shadow of world events. It has happened before and will happen again.
The very fact that two political parties can come together in this way, is also a form of "flexible" unformalized, democracy.
IG