David Davis

There is not much point in remembering this anniversary next week, because so much of the original substance of the charter has been eroded away by monarchs and statists in the meantime. But we ought to mark the day when, for the first time in human history (except for this!) a ruler allowed his public authority to be limited by agreement. Actually, the “charter of liberties” of Henry may have been a clever scam, just like “Human Rights” are today….

Actually, John didn’t really agree, and repudiated Magna Carta the moment the “Barons’ ” back was turned. but it was a start, a precedent, without precedent anywhere else.

There may be more stuff about Magna carta from me, this weekend, if I can get round to unearthing it.