(not satire)
The powers that be are obviously getting really nervous about plans for uniformed troops to march on parliament on Thursday as part of their protest against government cuts to the military. The army has even threatened to court martial any uniformed soldiers who join the protest.
Why the nervousness?
Well, it’s a long long time since British soldiers have demonstrated against the government on the streets of London. In fact, the last protest by the military was as long ago as 1649, when 300 soldiers protested at Oliver Cromwell’s order to send them to Ireland.
But that protest isn’t the one that’s making the top brass of the military and the government so nervous.
The demonstration that’s really worrying them actually happened a year earlier, in December 1648. That was when troops under the command of one of Cromwell’s Colonels marched on parliament and forcibly removed from the Houses of Parliament all those MPs who were not supporters of the New Model Army.
It is arguably the only military coup d’état in English history.
Think about it. Angry soldiers forcibly removing MPs from parliament who refuse to support the military? No wonder Cameron’s getting nervous. Maybe he’s worried the troops will be joined this time by police officers from the parliamentary protection squad?
By the way, the colonel in charge of the purge of parliament was called Thomas Pride.
And the forcible removal of all the unsympathetic MPs by his troops was known as Pride’s Purge.
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Related articles by Tom Pride:
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G4S Embassy Guards Sacked By US Government For Drinking Vodka Out Of Each Others’ Bottoms. Not satire – it’s true!
Oh dear! G4S were in charge of security at airport which let 9/11 hijackers slip through.
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Pride's Purge 
I’m glad you are finally lining up with your name-sake, Tom Pride.
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Can’t you do it again Tom? I trust your judgement of which particular MPs to purge … bagsy Osborne to be the first!
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Oh – if I were to decide we’d be left with an extremely small rump parliament.
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Sounds good to me .. especially the ‘left’ bit 🙂
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Glad you saw what I did there Sue. 🙂
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I’m flattered that a colonel in Cromwell’s New Model Army would be named after a mere blogger like me.
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There was a similar demo in 1974 during Wilson’s Government, too, but low key.
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Was that about the same time as the miner’s protests?
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Don’t forget that the General (Cromwell) who led _the_ military coup in 1653…now has his statue outside Parliament.
And perhaps on Thursday the soldiers could wear green ribbons on their arms.
Meanwhile, please link to “Levellers”, “Agitators” “The Agreement Of The People” etc. for further support from the past.
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Its not a challenge to the goverment at all. Its a protest about the disbanding of 2RRF instead of RRS. At least get the facts right. Having said that its going to be hugely embarrassing for the Goverment, MOD, and Army.
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Where did I say it was a challenge to the government?
I said it was a protest against government cuts to the military. Which it is.
Read the article again.
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well said Tom,too many many open gob before brain is in gear.Also frances healy-mcadam might just be one of those who think Cameron is god.Cameron does have some followers,but not as many as you.
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What a great way to wake me up this morning!
If only….Thomas Pride! I had not remembered the history lesson….some time ago ….but it would be amazing to remove the whole corrupt Cabinet. Ah dreams are made of this stuff!
Keep writing and reminding us what is going on in our name…by Tory toffs without a proper mandate. xx
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