So what is a Rump Parliament?
The term "rump" itself was a derogatory label, implying that this was merely the useless, leftover portion of the original parliament.
I must wonder how many of us feel we are in the hands of a Rump Parliament today?
Cromwell’s speech to the Rump Parliament in 1653 is a timeless condemnation of corruption, self-interest, and the betrayal of public trust. His words are just as relevant - perhaps even more so - today, as we witness political classes around the world becoming increasingly detached from the people they claim to represent. The speech, fiery and unflinching, was the voice of a man who had had enough of deception, greed, and the rot at the heart of government.
Oliver Cromwell, the man who rose from obscurity as a minor landowner to become the Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, is perhaps one of the most polarising figures in British history.
Though his rule lasted only five years (1653–1658), the reverberations of his radical reforms, military leadership, and disdain for parliamentary corruption continue. From the struggle between executive power and parliamentary authority to the enduring tension over civil liberties, Cromwell’s ghost still haunts the halls of Westminster. I wonder how his ghost walks now?
Here’s the most memorable part of Cromwell’s outburst:
“You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately… Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”
These words could easily be shouted from the public gallery of countless parliaments today. In Australia, the UK, Canada, and beyond, politicians often seem more focused on preserving their power, padding their pensions, and feeding from the public trough than on serving the people. They pass laws that chip away at freedoms, embrace globalist policies that sell out national interests, and engage in political theatre while the public pays the price.
The sinister relevance of Cromwell’s speech is in the fact that his fury was directed at a system that had grown so self-serving that it could no longer be reformed....it had to be dismantled.
His purge was not a call for mild reform, but for the removal of the corrupted elite.
One can’t help but wonder: is such a purge overdue today? The lack of Cromwells, people with the courage, conviction, and raw defiance to challenge the entrenched corruption, is a massive problem. Today, it seems the few who do stand up are either swiftly demonised, marginalised, or co-opted by the very system they sought to reform.
Cromwell was no saint...far from it ....but what made him formidable was his unflinching resolve. He was willing to put everything on the line, including his own reputation and safety, to sweep away the rot. In contrast, many of today’s so-called “mavericks” seem more like show ponies, putting on a brief display of defiance before being ushered into a corner with a cushy consultancy job or a seat on a board.
Cromwell’s ascent was forged in the crucible of the English Civil War (1642–1651), a brutal conflict between the Royalists (supporters of King Charles I) and the Parliamentarians, whose cause Cromwell came to champion.
But Cromwell’s ambitions were not initially aimed at ruling. He sought to defend the rights of Parliament and the English people against the perceived despotism of the king. However, after Charles I’s execution in 1649....Cromwell found himself increasingly disillusioned with the corrupt and self-serving Rump Parliament.
In Cromwell’s day, the people were more accustomed to hardship and less tolerant of betrayal. They were ready to back bold action, sometimes with force. Today, many citizens are dulled by convenience, social media distractions, and a creeping sense of powerlessness. Governments have learned to exploit apathy and fatigue, manipulating the populace with fear and manufactured outrage while eroding liberties by stealth.
What’s needed is not just one Cromwell, but thousands...principled, relentless individuals willing to take real risks. The question is: are there still any Cromwells left? Or have they been systematically weeded out by a system designed to protect itself from reformers? Julian Assange and Tommy Robinson are prime examples of modern-day Cromwells...or at least individuals who dared to challenge the system...only to be crushed by it. Both, in their own way, exposed uncomfortable truths and paid a heavy price for doing so.
Assange, through WikiLeaks, tore the veil off government secrecy, revealing war crimes, corruption, and backroom deals. His reward? Persecution, imprisonment, and vilification, all while the very criminals he exposed walk free. The globalist machine has relentlessly pursued him, not for any true crime, but for daring to embarrass and expose the powerful. His plight is a warning: those who hold power will destroy anyone who threatens their grip.
Tommy Robinson, on the other hand, became a symbol of defiance against the gagging of free speech and the protection of politically inconvenient truths. His crusade against grooming gangs and the media’s complicity made him a pariah. The state threw everything at him - imprisonment, censorship, character assassination - to make an example of him. His story highlights how even Western democracies now weaponise the law to silence dissent.
Both men, whether you agree with their politics or not, embody the Cromwellian spirit of defiance. They dared to say, “No more!” - and were hammered for it. Their persecution sends a chilling message:
The system protects itself, not the people.
The tragedy is that instead of rallying behind these modern Cromwells, much of the public (thanks to government-friendly media) is convinced they are the villains. The very people who could benefit from their revelations are often tricked into hating them, making their persecution easier.
Cromwell’s spirit looms large in modern countries. To libertarians and reformists, he represents a champion of individual liberties and the people’s right to hold their leaders accountable. To some, he symbolises the necessity of iron-fisted leadership in times of chaos. To others, he is a cautionary tale, a reminder of the dangers of centralised, unchecked power.
If Cromwell were alive today, he’d probably be labeled a far-right extremist, a traitor, or a domestic terrorist - anything to discredit him and avoid confronting the uncomfortable truths he would expose.
The spirit of Cromwell... the fearless defiance against corruption and betrayal....is needed now more than ever. Yet, in a world where truth-tellers are branded as criminals and free speech is treated as a threat, the path of the modern rebel is perilous. If we allow the powerful to silence dissent and destroy those who expose the truth, we will soon find ourselves living in a society where the truth itself becomes the crime.
