One of the important continuities in British life is Bonfire night. I remember well the excitement as a young boy being allowed the stay up late to watch the fireworks. I enjoyed helping put together the bonfire pile. It was good when the heat came through from the flames on what was often a cold night.
The commemoration has often been a muddled very British one. The official reason for encouraging bonfire nights was to remind people of the dreadful terrorist crime Guy Fawkes proposed to commit, as he got ready to blow up Parliament. He wanted to kill the whole assembly of peers, MP s and the King himself as they gathered together in the Lords chamber for the state opening. He wanted to murder the whole governing establishment, clearing the way for a new King and Ministers. Burning Guys on thousands of bonfires around the land was to remind people of what could happen to such evil criminals.
For others Bonfire night can bring disparaging remarks about Parliament and government in the British tradition of challenges and jokes at the expense of authority, whilst not approving of mass murder. I have seen one civil fireworks where a mock up of Parliament itself was enveloped in flames rather than a representation of the plotter bomber.
I celebrate tonight Parliament’s survival thanks to vigilance and intelligence about the actions of the plotters. When I had to leave my room in the Grand Hotel Brighton following a bomb which did go off, we learned that most of the government escaped but five were dead. The wish to murder governments can still haunt our Parliament which needs to be vigilant both for those who would kill to replace a government and to uphold our precious liberties.
November 5, 2026
I’m not a violent person but the behaviour of Parliament and particularly this twerp we have as PM is leading to mass disobedience and disorder.
With open ended immigration, Net zero bankrupting people and the latest stunt to align us with the failing EU, is pushing people to their limits.
Councils are banning the flying of UK flags whilst celebrating Islamic and Alphabet flags.
etc ed
November 5, 2026
Those who would wish to destroy democracy have found more effective ways. Reduce the quality of parliamentarians to such a level that they are incapable of government. Transfering power to quangos, the judiciary, the CS, and the EU.
Current government utterly clueless. No business experience on the front. Bench, 70 members with a background in charities ie. expertise in living on handouts with a PM doing it on an international playing field.
For countless years screwing up education so few grow up wise to the Orwellian intent.
November 5, 2026
Indeed but now it is mainly governments that are attacking our precious liberties with evil attacks on free speech, freedom in general, employment, property letting, the anti-banter laws, vast & total immoral over taxation then used to buy the votes of others…
Both of the bombers or would be bombers mentioned were Catholics. So often strong religious beliefs helps people to justify to themselves doing truly appallingly evil things.
Catholic Church still officially regards in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a mortal sin where does the usually sensible & rational Jacob Rees-Mogg stand on this issue? Must now be millions of IVF children and adults walking around that they would have banned.