On 16th August the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre was marked in Manchester. 18 died and hundreds were injured as the Yeomanry rode into a crowd of 60,000 protesting for democratic rights.
The magistrate who gave the order for the Yeomanry to go in was Hulton, a lifelong Tory.
We can see that Peterloo remains an awkward matter for many Tories even 200 years on.
Even so it was one of the key events that led to the 1832 Reform Act and the beginnings of the modern system of Parliamentary democracy.
One would expect therefore the Prime Minister of the day, even if they were a Tory, to mark Peterloo as an important reminder of the sacrifices made for the right to vote.
In fact Prime Minister Johnson had nothing to say on Peterloo on the 16th August or since.
Two weeks on we can see why. Praising the importance of Parliamentary democracy when you know you are about to restrict it could be awkward.
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