the scope and exercise of royal power has been in remission for 4 centuries now. though the concept of a "royal prerogative", or exemption from the constraints of ordinary laws, still endures. it does. really. only it is no longer possessed by the crown. it has passed instead to basil brush. and why not? after 40 years of unsurpassable and unparalleled cheek—as cheek goes, it's quite as good as that given by mr toad to the constable in "wind in the willows"—the fox has earned it. he can say whatever he wants, whenever he wants, about whomever he wants. defamation doesn't apply.unfortunately the northants police aren't awake to this. they've just dispatched a "race relations officer" (could only happen in england) to investigate basil's disparaging (and hilarious) remarks about new age travellers. a group more accurately described as "bums" or "thieves".
this enquiry is daft.
basil is funny. and gypsies are filthy. we don't need police to tell us this.
this controversy will probably remind literate observers of the incident in jane austen's "emma" (vol.3, ch.3) where harriet is terrorized by nasty gypsies. another case of good being waylaid by evil.
find sommat else to do, mr plod.
