Peter Osborne is the author of the text which is written in 2011. The duke and duchess of Cambridge were visiting Canada, and Peter Osborne wrote the article “A royal salute to the Commonwealth”. In the article he expresses his opinion about the Commonwealth. Today there are about 54 member countries, and the article is a debate about the Commonwealth, and whether it should abolish or not. In addition Peter Osborne is questioning what is going too happened when the Queen dies, and he is not rapturous for Tony Blair and New Labour. The article is starting and debate, and it is very objective. Peter Osborne is writing his opinion, and why he thinks the Commonwealth is a good thing.
Peter Osborne starts his article telling about the royal visit to Canada. Already here we know about his view on the commonwealth, because he says:
When the second in line to the throne travels to Canada, it is like visiting family rather than some foreign country.
This shows that Peter Osborne sees Canada as a family member, and that every country in the Commonwealth are like family.
He also uses positive connotations when he describes the Commonwealth.
“…Such is the invisible strength of the Commonwealth, the association of independent countries".
“Strength” and “independent countries” are positive connotations in the sentence. These positive words show the reader which view Peter Osborne’s has on the commonwealth.
On the other hand, Peter Osborne also uses negative words in the article to describe what he disagrees. He talks about the politicians, and how they look at the Commonwealth.
“For many years it has been automatic in progressive circles to sneer at the Commonwealth as a meaningless relic of our imperial past.”
His view on Tony Blair and New Labour is also clearly expressed when he says:
“Blair regarded traditional British values and identities as xenophobic, if not racist...”
He also uses negative connotations like