YOU live in an institution. In fact, you live in a bunch of them. A country or state can only function with the support of other institutions.

Well-known institutions in the UK include the ­Westminster government, the monarchy, the BBC, and the civil service. Countries, well most of them anyway, state in their constitutions what the country stands for – and what it will not stand for. To make that ethical and moral ­commitment effective needs institutions. These are the pillars that hold up the state. Without them, the state or country cannot work.

Let’s take a brief tour of Britain’s essential institutions to see how well these are ­working, starting with Westminster. As part of ­another Brownhog Day, Labour has announced ­reform of the House of Lords, maybe, perhaps, ­sometime. While Labour is labouring to ­resist real change, the abuse of power continues ­unabated.

Following clear evidence of undue influence, we are told: “With immediate effect, Baroness Mone will be taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords in order to clear her name of the allegations that have been unjustly levelled against her. This is her decision.”

Sadly, the upper chamber will no longer ­resound to the honeyed tones of Baroness Mone as she is off to spend more time with her (mostly your) money. Context: She’s only spoken in the Lords on five occasions since 2015.

Besides, how does one “take leave of ­absence” from an institution that does not require ­attendance?

Now let’s look at the monarchy. The ­Sussexes have appeared on Netflix to explain what is wrong with the way the institution of the ­monarchy works. We learned of “unconscious racism” and “Empire 2.0”. The whole notion that someone is superior to others simply based on the bed in which they were born is repugnant to many people.

Nonetheless, the British state is deeply ­wedded to the institution. It is a mutual ­relationship. Westminster ministers use it to sanitise lousy legislation, and the exchequer covers the ­monarchy’s expenses.

I hold no brief for any of this nonsense. But, Harry and Meghan (or H&M as they prefer to be styled) did at least point out that change is needed. And they are right. Will it happen? I very much doubt it.

More likely, the institution will ostracise any who speak up. And life will carry on much as before. We’ll see.

Now, let’s turn to the BBC. Its boss has ­announced that the Beeb is going to be an ­internet-only “distributor” in the future. No need, perhaps, for all those huge antennae at Shotts, or anywhere else. Or for a cast of ­thousands in London. Instead, users will use an app to access BBC services. What’s that I hear? Huge cheers from the Scottish independence movement?

Like it or not, the Beeb has significant ­political influence. This explains why Jack Straw, then Labour home secretary, had ­control of ­broadcasting removed from the ­ devolution ­settlement.

Right now, folks have little option. All “opt-in” to the Beeb whatever they want to watch or listen to and pay handsomely by means of a poll tax for the privilege. How effective will the BBC’s influence be if people have a real choice whether to “opt-in”? Or pay?

What happens when we are faced with a vast range of apps – all promising “news” services, for example. How many would opt to pay for BBC Scotland news, for instance?

Equally, there is now clear space for non-Unionist 24 hours news provision – ­“internet–only”.

Maybe even a “national” broadcaster.

This can only be liberating. For example, I host the TNT show on IndyLive every ­Wednesday. We’ve now aired more than 120 live shows, with a vast range of guests – some of whom would never be invited on the BBC – all done at minimal cost.

The other week the show featured a senior professor from Princeton University in the US, and last week, the inimitable singer, Iona Fyfe.

The Civil Service is another essential British institution. It is based on clear ethical ­principles. However, this moral base is wholly corrupted when it reports to an all-powerful executive, that holds Parliament in its thrall. So, it is no surprise to learn that when civil servants pointed out that Covid and other contracts were in violation of the rules, ministers overrode these objections. In short, the Government forced civil servants to behave against their ethical standards.

This is how institutions fail. Corruption from the inside is insidious, and almost always fatal. The best leave. When this happens, the country has little future.

This week’s guest on the TNT show is Glyndwr Jones. Join us for a view from Wales at 7pm on Wednesday