Above, the work “Chucking-out Time!” by watercolour artist Andrew Storrie which is for sale on his website: https://www.andrewstorrie.com/product-page/chucking-out-time
There used to be a very straightforward ritual attached to closing time in pubs. Ten minutes before the actual time, “Last orders at the bar!” would be called. Then, at the hour itself, it was “Time, Ladies and Gentlemen!” And, after ten minutes of drinking-up time, it was chucking out time, when the customers would be asked to leave the premises with varying degrees of firmness.
Drinking-up time was interpreted differently in various areas – Birmingham, for example, was very strict, while Greater Manchester tended to be much more relaxed. However, it was a standard routine that was generally understood and accepted. And, of course, with afternoon closing too, it happened twice a day. In 1988, when all-day opening was finally permitted, the permitted drinking-up time was extended to twenty minutes, which in many places was merely a recognition of what was already happening. But, otherwise, nothing changed.
However, the 2003 Licensing Act, which was implemented in 2005 and led to a much more liberal regime overall for opening hours, swept this away, and left it much more to the discretion of individual establishments as to how they managed the process. On the face of it, that may sound like a welcome measure of deregulation, but in practice it often just leaves drinkers confused and disgruntled.
The Guardian’s critical reporting of the soon to be Former Prime Minister Mr Sunak (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/29/tory-donor-knighthood-sign-sunak-way-out-labour-mohamed-mansour) is what one would expect from this well respected newspaper of the left.
For what it is worth Katharine Viner (the lady Dear Reader is Editor-in-Chief of the Guardian, a position she has held since June 2015) I do not disagree with most of the article Peter Walker and Rowena Mason have written. I would however take issue with these words: “…………..honours unexpectedly announced late on Thursday,…………..” and one word particularly: “unexpectedly”.
Unexpectedly? Really Katherine? Really? Is this the best Peter or Rowena could come up with? I would respectfully suggest another word beginning with the letter U: Unprecedented!
Furthermore, “…….announced late on Thursday……..”?
Katherine, the Thursday in question was Maundy Thursday!!!
Remember? This is when the monarch distributes the Maundy money (https://www.worcestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on/the-royal-maundy-service-2024-worcester-cathedral), a deeply significant act with the English/British/UK sovereign traditionally giving the coins to deserving recipients as a public act of humility to commemorate Christ washing the feet of His disciples!
Remember, Mr Sunak as PM may be the one who selects those receiving “gongs” – but it is the Sovereign who bestows them. In normal times the English/British/UK monarch would NEVER countenance announcing any form of honour on this day!
That Mr Sunak has done this and will have had #10 staffers press that the announcement be made on Maundy Thursday is I would respectfully suggest, very very significant!
Rather than just draw attention to those being honoured, a little justified speculation is called for don’t you think?
I would suggest that Mansour’s knighthood is in-and-of-itself nothing remarkable – a high net worth Tory donor making a multi-million donation being rewarded. The knighthood that piqued my interest was that for the backbencher Philip Davies the Member for Shipley in West Yorkshire. With the latest polling Sir Philip’s majority of 6,242 (2019) is I suggest not on the vulnerable list but the deeply endangered list. It would be a miracle if Sir Philip was returned! Of course The Right Honourable, Lady Davies, Minister of State without Portfolio and the Member for Tatton is somewhat more secure with her majority of 17,387 – but with the present state of the polls she is vulnerable as well.
All in all, I would suggest that the above are signs of a possible change of PM!
Thursday 2nd May 2024 appears set to be a day of catastrophic results for the Tories. On Friday 3 May and over that weekend the Tories will be in turmoil! IMHO, Mr Sunak will not wait for the arrival of the men in grey suits to walk through the door of #10! He will announce his resignation staing that he will leave office upon the selection of his successor. The Tories will be in NO position to poll their members so it will likely be a quick “coronation”.
The reason for the “Maundy Honours” – because the investitures can take place before the change of government making sure that the recipients will actually receive their gongs!
This is an INSULT to our monarchy, for the honours are those of the monarch NOT Mr Sunak’s and displaying the monarch’s Majesty on the very day when the monarch makes a public display of humility – shows just how traduced our system of government has become!
Expect Mr Sunak to resign as the Member for Richmond (Yorkshire) at the same time!
Expect Mr & Mrs Sunak and their daughters to be on a flight across the Atlantic to sunny California!