Ordinarily a Parliamentary Premier cannot choose; he is brought in by a party; he is maintained in office by a party; and that party requires that as they aid him, he shall aid them; that as they give him the very best thing in the State, he shall give them the next best things.
Bagehot explains the typical constraints faced by a Parliamentary Premier in maintaining party support.
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The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
And again, in political matters, how quickly a leading statesman can change the tone of the community!
That a House of Commons may work well it must perform, as we saw, five functions well: it must elect a Ministry well, legislate well, teach the nation well, express the nation's will well, bring matters to the nation's attention well.
They have given what I may call a CONFIDENCE IN THE UNIVERSE.
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