opso
While the PM has a constitutional obligation to inform and consult The Queen, he does not require her permission to deploy the British armed forces.
Mystic Greg
Do you remember the character Derek Fowlds played in 'Yes Minister' ? He was the pedantic private secretary who incessantly corrected Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey on terminological niceties. He was a mine of information, but rarely contributed anything useful to the proceedings.
The distinction between terms such as 'leader' and 'head' and the more abstract concepts of The Queen's 'power' (see paragraphs 1-5) are purely academic. 'A Civilian' may not have the benefit of a degree in political history (or be a spelling ace), but I find his/her arguments more persuasive than yours.
Last edited by Scud-U-Like; 9th Jun 2002 at 14:56.