Peers threaten rebellion

Could the Queen's constitutional role bar EU legislation?

Saturday 24 March 2001

By PM's reporter Chris Hogg

Persuading people a thirteenth century document has some relevance to them is frankly quite hard.

Is one amused?

This weekend at Buckingham Palace they need no convincing after the visit of four modern day barons: the Duke of Rutland, Viscount Masserene and Ferrard, Lord Ashbourne and Lord Hamilton of Dalzell.

The peers are trying to use provisions in the Magna Carta of 1215 to persuade the Queen to withhold the royal assent from a bill seeking to ratify the Treaty of Nice.

They say any measure which allows closer integration with Europe conflicts with the oath the Queen made on Coronation Day, as well as the Magna Carta and the Declaration and Bill of Rights.

Peers try to assert ancient rights

The Magna Carta is particularly relevant, since one of its clauses, Article 61, allows a quorum of 25 barons to send four of their number to petition the monarch on an issue they feel strongly about.

If the Queen does not respond satisfactorily within 40 days, the people are incited to rise against her to press the issue.

Lord Hamilton of Dalzell explained his mission to PM and the constitutional lawyer Richard Ramsey explained how the Magna Carta was still relevant but probably would not cause the government much concern in this particular case.