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I just listened to Jonathan Sumption's final Reith Lecture (bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…) - I missed 4th so will have to catch up. I enjoyed it. Well structured + delivered defence of our unwritten constitution.
tldr he thinks we need to let the political aristocracy get on with it
tldr he thinks we need to let the political aristocracy get on with it
I have more detailed thoughts about it but will probably get back to them once I listen to the 4th. I was a bit disappointed by his denouement (SPOILER ALERT) which is that the answer to our current woes is... proportional representation.
It was as if he realised he had to be a bit constructive as the entire 5 lectures (I assume - missed the 4th!) was extremely conservative, saying that our system has more or less perfectly evolved to suit our unique history, perfectly adaptable, let the chaps get on with it etc.
The first question by the presenter @AnitaAnand2 was good and revealing. Sumption had nothing to say about structural inequalities or the people who lose out when you let the chaps get on with it and trust the system which has perfectly evolved to suit our unique situation etc.
Which I suppose is why he isn't a big fan of human rights, especially evolving rights which lead to hard decisions on current social realities rather than ones which fit us like a glove if our hand is frozen in 1953.
He's happy with the system evolving but now it should stop.
He's happy with the system evolving but now it should stop.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the lectures but Sumption's view of society rather reminds me of Douglas Adams' puddle.
Isn't it amazing the whole constitution evolved to fit me - a powerful white male - rather neatly? In fact, it fits me staggeringly well!
Isn't it amazing the whole constitution evolved to fit me - a powerful white male - rather neatly? In fact, it fits me staggeringly well!
Sorry, I should have tagged @tweeter_anita above
@tweeter_anita I listened to the 4th Reith lecture on the way home tonight and it was my favourite of the 5, probably because he was focussing on another system, the US. The amazing things about these lectures is you come away wondering what the point of rights based constitutions are at all
Sumption very grudgingly accepted that Brown vs Board of Education (found segregated schooling unconditional) was a good thing but the major work was done by Congress. Such a jaundiced view of his profession
