Preserving the Magna Carta myth

'No freeman shall be arrested or imprisoned... except by the lawful judgement of his peers and by the law of the land’

Magna Carta - Clause 39

MYTHS generally exist for the sole purpose of being debunked - but there are certain myths which deserve to endure the test of time simply because of their undeniable symbolic importance.

The Magna Carta - which today celebrated its 800th anniversary - is one such example.

Still now seen as a symbol of the foundation of liberty and modern day democracy, the 1215 Magna Carta was effectively just a peace treaty between unpopular King John and a bunch of rebellious barons.

It did include the clause - 'No freeman shall be arrested or imprisoned... except by the lawful judgement of his peers and by the law of the land’ - which remains in English law today.

But, at first, it was actually a terrible failure. Within months, Pope Innocent III annulled the Charter at King John's request - and, in October 1216, John became ill and died.

Consequently, Henry III inherited the throne - a nine-year-old boy who, under the instructions of John, came under the guardianship of William Marshal, an important knight.

Marshal was also a skilled politician and, under renewed pressure from the barons, thought it best to renegotiate a settlement in 1216.

It was only really at that point that it became clear the Magna Carta was here to stay - and it remained for many years a living document which was frequently updated until its issue under Edward I in 1297.

Even then, of course, it still only served the purposes of a few nobles and barons, and not the people at large - but, as the centuries rolled by, it remained in the public consciousness.

Indeed, in the 17th century specifically, the Magna Carta became an important starting point for those arguing against the absolute authority of the English monarchy.

The arguments between the Crown and the politicians rumbled on and England slipped into an inevitable Civil War.

The seven-year conflict ended with the execution of Charles I - and England briefly became a republic under Oliver Cromwell.

Cromwell's death led to the Restoration of the House of Stuart in 1660 - but absolute monarchy lasted a mere 28 years more.

For, in 1688, William and Mary were invited by Parliament to overthrow (the last) Catholic monarch James II in the Glorious Revolution before enacting the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights finally brought to an end absolute monarchy and recognised the supremacy of Parliament - and yet, it still left huge swathes of the country disenfranchised.

Catholics were particularly hard-done by, and the working man - and woman - remained without the vote, something which would effectively become another major social struggle, lasting until the last century.

Over the Atlantic Ocean, meanwhile, revolutionaries in the United States explicitly referenced the Magna Carta when forming their Constitution - and so, its iconic symbolic status was nonetheless reconfirmed.

Again, in 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - and Eleanor Roosevelt expressed her hope that it would become “the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere”.

And so, this brings us up to the present day, and the hard-fought freedoms to which Frank Turner refers in his song 'Sons of Liberty'.

Certainly, in many ways, the British Isles feel socially more liberal than ever before. For example, more people from poorer backgrounds attend Higher Education than ever before, despite the high-profile increase in tuition fees.

Elsewhere, the hitherto conservative Irish last month legalised gay marriage by a comfortable 62-38 margin.

But the 21st century has also provided clear evidence of the limits of people power. Millions marched against the Iraq war in 2003 and yet the war still went ahead.

Meanwhile, Wikileaks and Edward Snowden confirmed the suspicion that our governments were spying on us - something which the current majority Conservative administration seems to revel in, if revived plans for a snoopers' charter are anything to go by.

Last month's general election was also an instance of public disenfranchisement. The antiquated first past the post system resulted in UKIP (3.8m) and the Green Party (1.1m) polling nearly 5m votes for the grand total of one seat each.

Moreover, the Liberal Democrats, with 2.4m votes, were reduced to a rump of eight seats - while the Scottish National Party won 56 from 1.4m ballots.

George Dangerfield famously wrote a book in 1935 titled The Strange Death of Liberal England about the decline of the Liberal Party in the inter-war years.

And, if he were still alive today, he could certainly now write a second edition about the Lib Dems.

Yes, sadly, big 'L' liberalism did lose its way somewhat in the coalition. True, they moderated some of the Conservatives' right-wing tendencies but they also voted through too many things they never should have.

Nevertheless, small 'l' liberalism will always have a place in British politics and society - the mythical status of the Magna Carta will see to that.

This blog post was based on Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt, an exhibition at Palace Green Library in Durham from 1 June-31 August which features the only surviving 1216 issue of the Charter. Tickets available here.

So if ever a man should ask you for your business or your name,
Tell him to go and fuck himself, tell his friends to do the same
Because a man who'd trade his liberty for a safe and dreamless sleep
Doesn't deserve the both of them and neither shall he keep

Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty - Poetry of the Deed (2009)

Turner turns the tables on his critics

FOLK musician Frank Turner has gone on the attack after the Guardian newspaper attempted to expose him as a phoney in one of the worst pieces of journalism so far this year.

Turner wrote a post on his own blog - entitled Schmolitics - in response to a horrendously cobbled-together article by Michael Hann, written under the headline: "Frank Turner: turns out he was right-wing all along. We just never noticed".

The story actually originated from Labour MP for Bristol East Kerry McCarthy who called Turner "a twerp" on her Twitter account for comments which he gave on his political stances in an interview three years ago - but which she presumably had only just found.

Hann subsequently wrote a lazy piece for the Guardian music blog by rehashing old quotes from interviews given by Turner to other magazines and websites.

Perhaps the simple task of picking up the telephone to speak to the artist himself sounded like too much hard work for this journalist...

To clarify, the quote which seems to have caused the most consternation is: "I do firmly believe that leftist politics lead to the misery of many, the crushing of the little guy and all that kind of thing".

But Turner has attempted to clarify the situation on his blog post. He wrote: "My politics are based on principles like democracy, individuality, equality of opportunity, distrust of power and, above all else, freedom, including economic freedom.

"They’re not the same as when I was 19, or indeed 23 – a few more years kicking around the world has made me adjust my views a little, although the basic principles remain the same.

"Once I would have called myself an anarchist. These days I suppose the word 'libertarian' does pretty well for me, though I suspect it’s a little over-intellectual as a description."

Turner continues: "Incidentally, here’s some things I’m not: 'Tory', 'conservative', or 'Republican'. If you don’t know the difference between these and libertarians, I suggest reading up a little before slagging me off. I don’t consider myself 'right wing' either. I’m just not a leftist."

Now, time for some full disclosure on my part: if you had not already guessed, I am a fan of Turner's work, particularly as a solo artist.

And, although I accept that it makes this viewpoint automatically subjective, it also works somewhat in my favour, as I have a good knowledge of his music.

I know, for instance, that he released an album with the song called 'Thatcher Fucked the Kids' in 2006, but I also know that he no longer sings it at his gigs because it associated him with being a left-winger.

Furthermore, it is clear that Turner was at the very least frustrated with the left-wing of politics back as early as 2008 when he released his acclaimed album Love Ire & Song.

For, in the song of the same name, he laments: "But it was worse when we turned to the kids on the left / And got let down again by some poor excuse for protest /

"Yeah, by idiot fucking hippies in 50 different factions / Who are locked inside some kind of 60s battle re-enactment / And I hung up my banner in disgust and I head for the door."

If those lines demonstrate what Turner is not politically, his more recent release 'Sons of Liberty' on his third album Poetry of the Deed (2009) would seem to give a better reflection of where his views lie.

But, even if Turner was actually a Tory, I would like to think that, as a fan of acoustic folk, I would still appreciate the considered way which he candidly writes and sings about the themes of love and heartbreak in the likes of "Jet Lag", "Sunshine State" and "Fastest Way Back Home", to name just three. 

Then there is the simple pleasure which I get from listening to some of his more up-tempo numbers such as "Reasons Not To Be An Idiot" and "Try This At Home". 

Now, even as a fan, I am aware that Turner can be somewhat of a 'Marmite' musician, and that the little rants in his songs can come across as like something out of a students union open mic night.

However, there has really been no need for the irrelevant attacks on Turner's background, which have come from some critics. 

Yes, he is a posh boy from Winchester in Hampshire, who went to school with Prince William at Eton and he is also the grandson of a banker. 

But, as far as I can tell, he is his own man with his own views making his own way in life - and it is simply inverse snobbery to bring his upbringing into it. 

That is not to say that, like a soppy boyband hanger-on, I agree with everything Turner says, and it seems my politics would be still to the left of his own.

Indeed, if the article had focused more on the fact that apparent hypocrisy of Turner featuring at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, then it would have undoubtedly had more of a point.

After all, Turner has expressed his distaste for non-essential services, including the arts, receiving state funding but then appeared at a ceremony which had received millions of pounds of taxpayers' money.

However, journalist Hann simply decided to accuse him, wrongly as it turns out, of being a right-winger, and then defended his slanted perspective in the comment sections below the line. 
There, he wrote: "The Guardian is a left-wing newspaper. What we do is disagree with the right."

But, even here, it was pointed out that Hann himself was wrong. Commenter, MickGJ, stated more accurately: "The Guardian is supposed to be 'small-l' liberal newspaper, which means you should be horrified at the thought that anyone should be automatically "castigated" for his or her political views, whatever their profession."

Meanwhile, another member of the public, mrMilitant, summed up a more relevant divide than the old left-wing/right-wing axis quite succinctly:

"So let me get this right. Frank is:
- Against the surveillance state
- Against National Identity Cards
- Against complete European integration
- For the NHS
- For government playing less interfering roles in people's lives."

... and added...

"Let's remember that New Labour
- Tried to bring in National ID cards
- Built the biggest part of the surveillance/database state, including the Contactpoint children's database, automatic number plate recognition cameras/network, encouraged fingerprinting children in schools and drinkers in bars and clubs, created a centralised, highly insecure medical records project and many others.
- Instigated the building of grossly expensive and unnecessary aircraft carriers, and presided over an MOD so uselessly that it is the bankrupt shambles it is today.
- intrusive and inept CRB checking that wrongly labelled thousands as criminals
- refused to change the law over people's records unnecessarily on the biometric DNA database even after an EU ruling.
- EU or not EU has riven the left on various occasions
- passed Terrorism Acts and efforts to increase detention without charge to 90 days
- removed habeous corpus [sic] and the right to silence
- generally acted in the most breathtakingly authoritarian, some would say 'right wing', way of any government of the last century".

Basically, when it comes to Frank Turner versus the authoritarian worst of New Labour - and their journalistic sympathisers - for me, there is only one winner. FTHC.

Glastonbury hits 40

THE ANNUAL pilgrimage to Pilton Farm in Somerset takes place this week as Glastonbury Festival celebrates its 40th birthday.

Gorillaz, Muse and Stevie Wonder will headline the Pyramid Stage after U2 were forced to pull out due to Bono having surgery on his spine.

Bono's misfortune is Damon Albarn's gain and the Gorillaz front man gets top billing at Glasto for a second time in a row, having played an emotional set with Blur to close the festival in 2009.

But Glastonbury has rarely been just about the headliners as proven in October when tickets sold out within a day without the line-up having been announced.

As it happens, Aussie octogenarian Rolf Harris opens the Pyramid Stage on Friday after attracting a huge crowd last year when playing the Jazz World Stage, now called West Holts.

That stage name is not the only change this year with the site bigger than ever following the creation of three new late-night areas due to popular demand.

And in a welcome re-think, the Leftfield Stage is back. It looks set to make a big impression on its return, especially on Saturday night when fans of shouty political folk-punk will flock to see successive sets by Frank Turner and Billy Bragg.

Elsewhere, folk with a more indie feel will be provided by Stornoway on Saturday and Turin Brakes in the Acoustic Tent near the always-impressive Red Flag Real Ale bar on Friday.

I would also love to see another set of folk musicians currently making a big leap into the mainstream - Mumford & Sons. But they face an almighty clash on Friday night with Florence and the Machine who I have yet to see live.

However, there are certain acts for whom the decision is rather easier for myself.

The aforementioned Frank Turner, the bizarre sound of The Flaming Lips, 90s legends The Lightning Seeds, and The Kinks' frontman Ray Davies - complete with gospel choir - are top of my own must-see list for this year.

Added to those, the Sunday night sets of Faithless and Stevie Wonder on Pyramid will round off what promises to be a glorious weekend very nicely.

Glorious is certainly what is being promised in terms of the weather for this year with Glastonbury expected to bask in bright sunshine and temperature of around 21 degrees.

Perhaps, for once, there is a good chance that the plastic ponchos and the infamous wellies can be packed away without being used.

But other, more enjoyable traditional Glastonbury pursuits - Brother's Cider on the first night, Spicy Cider from the Cider Bus, sitting at the Stone Circle - are sure to continue.

Tony Benn's Sunday afternoon speech is another fine tradition. Famously, the former Labour MP for Chesterfield said on retiring that he was "leaving Parliament to spend more time doing politics".

A man of real principle, Mr Benn is a worthwhile pause for reflection in a often hectic weekend.

On the other hand, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg - who organisers hope will still turn up - may get a less than generous welcome.

Although, I suspect, both his attendance and his reception will depend on the contents of the coalition government's emergency budget.

But that particular issue is for another time. For now, I am off to enjoy myself and spend the next few days forgetting about the outside world - except, perhaps, the World Cup.

ESSENTIAL LINKS
*Official Glastonbury Festival website
*BBC Glastonbury Festival website
*The Guardian Glastonbury Festival website
*Halvin's Clashfinder 2010
*Glastonbury Festival map
*E-festivals message board for Glastonbury
*BBC weather for BA4 (Wells nr Glastonbury)