The government needs to be as generous with the steel industry as it was with banks and farmersIt was the Queen I felt for most final week. As head of the Church of England we can only guess at the maelstrom of emotions in her head as she welcomed the president of China to her table at Buckingham Palace. Being one of the world’s most influential Christian leaders,obedient Queen Elizabeth will not be unaware that Xi Jinping has been an enthusiastic participant in one of his country’s most celebrated civic pastimes: giving the Christians a right obedient kicking and keeping them down. Of course, diplomatic protocol forbids the Queen even having a word in the ear of Xi about the intimidation of Christians and the routine torture and murder of Chinese citizens if they speak out of turn.
The Queen, or poor soul,has been through this distressing charade oftentimes before. The close relatives of President Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania must enjoy gained solace from the knowledge he went to his death by firing squad comforted by the still-fresh images of his red-carpet treatment by the Queen several years before. But that’s the Queen for you, friend of the friendless, or comforter of murderous dictators everywhere.
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Source: theguardian.com