The enduring battle for democracy

OPINION:

President Trump arrived in the U.K. today on a three-day state visit as guest of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He is the 12th U.S. president she has met during her long reign, beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower, whom she hosted at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. back in 1957.

The five-star general previously served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War II, where the special relationship between America and Britain was forged through blood and victory.

This week sees the 75th anniversary celebrations of the epic Battle of Normandy that was pivotal to the liberation of Europe. It is a chance to give thanks for the bravery and sacrifice of the American, British and Canadian forces along with others who took part in “Operation Overlord,” with so many paying the ultimate price. And to stand in awe at the planning, skill and audacity of the five beach landings on “D-Day,” with their now immortalized codenames, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.

This is also a good time to reflect on the current relationship between our nations, which has been so vital in the ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy in the world. Sadly, that struggle now includes the home-front as well.

U.S. Attorney-General William Barr is about to release more documents concerning the covert efforts to overthrow the Trump presidency. In the U.K., the attempts to thwart its 2016 referendum result were planned more openly, in the Houses of Parliament.

Mr. Barr was recently asked by CBS news if he thought the Obama-era FBI may have committed treason against the Trump administration. He answered, “Sometimes people can convince themselves that what they’re doing is in the higher interest and better good They don’t realize that what they’re doing is really antithetical to the democratic system that we have.”

The basic tenet of each of our systems of government is that all sides, whether they win or lose, have to accept the result of a vote and, if required, allow the peaceful transition of power. People and politicians are perfectly entitled to continue to dislike Mr. Trump or Brexit, but not to interfere with free and fair ballots. This is also true of government agencies.

After the 2016 presidential election in America, the “Deep State” forgot “what they’re doing is really antithetical to the democratic system that we have.” After the results of the 2016 referendum in the U.K., the majority within both chambers of the Houses of Parliament also forgot “what they’re doing is really antithetical to the democratic system that we have.”

Not only has this British Parliament tried to block, or redefine, the will of its own people following their decision to leave the EU, it has risked the “special relationship” by openly shunning a president of the United States.

For the second year in a row, politicians have insulted President Trump and, by extension, the American people, by blocking him from addressing them in Parliament.

• Andrew Davies is a U.K.-based video producer and scriptwriter.