David Cameron spent yesterday singing Magna Carta's praises in front of the Queen and Archbishop of Canterbury - prompting anger from human rights groups.
But how much of the 800-year-old Latin document does he really agree with?
King John lived in a different world, with England run by lords and another 700 years to go before a fully representative democracy.
So his Great Charter of 1215 didn't just guarantee trial by jury and a free church.
It's also stuffed with clauses the Tories would be unlikely to introduce today, many of them for good reason.
They range from the head-scratching to some you might think pretty sensible.
Which ones don't sit right with the modern-day Conservative party?
Here's our round-up.
1. No limit on migrant workers
What Magna Carta says: All merchants may stay in England for purposes of trade. All other men can leave and return 'for some short period for the common benefit of the realm'.The situation today: The Tories want to crack down on migrant workers from outside the EU in a bid to preserve British jobs for British workers. There are working visas for select people who might benefit the country, but the government wants to limit the numbers.
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2. Interest-free debts for the underage
What Magna Carta says: If a father dies leaving an unpaid debt, his children won't have to pay any interest on it for as long as they remain under the age of maturity.The situation today: Such a rule could mean no interest on a private loan for 18 years - making it unthinkable. Nowadays secured loans like mortgages must be paid off before funeral costs, and special permission must be sought to freeze interest.
3. Punishment that fits the crime
What Magna Carta says: For a trivial offence, a free man shall be fined only in proportion to the degree of his offence, and for a serious offence correspondingly.The situation today: Protesters often complain they're made examples of by the authorities, and in 2011 a student was jailed for 6 months for stealing a £3.50 case of bottled water in the London riots.
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4. State won't keep criminal property
What Magna Carta says: We will not keep the lands of people convicted of felony in our hand for longer than a year and a day.The situation today: One of the last laws passed before this year's election was the Serious Crime Act, which increases powers introduced by Labour to seize criminals' land if it was part of their lifestyle and sell it to raise funds for the state.
5. No depriving people of liberty
What Magna Carta says: We will not 'deny or delay right or justice' to anyone, or deny anyone of their 'liberties or rights' without a fair trial.The situation today: In 2012 Theresa May launched TPims, replacing Labour's control orders, which let police restrict the movements of terror suspects who've never even been charged.
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6. Women can't report murder
What Magna Carta says: No one shall be arrested or imprisoned on the appeal of a woman for the death of any person except her husband.The situation today: You'll be relieved to hear David Cameron shows no sign of rowing back and stopping women from reporting crime.
7. Cloth measured with people's arms
What Magna Carta says: It called for traditional beer measurements - but also forced people to measure cloth with the length of their forearm (an 'ell').The situation today: There's no sign of David Cameron getting rid of the great British pint. But why isn't he bringing back cloth-by-arm measurements?
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8. Equal rights for Alex of Scotland
What Magna Carta says: We will treat Alexander, King of Scotland, in the same way as our other barons of England.The situation today: David Cameron's plan for English Votes for English laws prompted anger from a certain Alex of Scotland - Mr Salmond, who complained about the way it was being introduced weeks after last month's election
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