to think it's about time we got rid of the Monarchy?

[clayspaniel]

Now that the Scotland referendum is over, does anyone else think it is now time to have a complete constitutional reform, and discontinue the role of the Queen and all her associated hangers-on?

Don't know how I posted that twice.

You did it again! I agree William should be the next king, can't stand Charles.

I would like to get rid of the monarchy too for a number of reasons.

1. I think it sends the wrong message. I don't agree that anyone is born special or superior or that you ought to have to courtsey to anyone.

1. The money we spend on them.

1. People claim they bring in tourists. Yet so does Versailles and the French haven't had a Monarchy in quiet some time.

1. There is no way to guarantee a 'good' Monarch. The current Queen has been pretty discrete, but Charles seems to be an interferer and his opinion carries much more weight then it should.

1. I think it's cruel to those involved. In my view the whole Royal Family live in a gilded cage. They can't make real choices or live the lives they might want to live if they were 'free'. There is no real privacy either. None of them can walk away or decide to be not-Royal (unless they all did it together) because that would mean cutting themselves off from their own families in many ways.

Republic all the way!

Well, I LIKE the monarchy and wouldn't want it doing away with. I'm not particularly old either. Don't know why I like them, I suppose I'm just a big fan of tradition and quite like all the pomp and ceremony.
It makes England more individual and unique. It just wouldn't be the same without.

I do think that Charles should not take the throne though and that it should pass straight to William

I completely agree. I fully realise that the succession isn't based on some popularity contest, but after all four out of the last six monarchs weren't originally expected to reign either, so it's massively precedented

It would be nice to be offered the choice of a vote, being as this is supposed to be a democracy, even if people want to vote yes to keep them.
I would like a democratically elected head of state because the fairy tale that is the royal family doesn't represent anyone else except itself.

When the Queen goes I would not be surprised if people start questioning the use of the royal family more. Who wants to sing, God save the King to Charles?

I would love for the monarchy to be abolished but I just don't see how it would happen. How would we even get a vote to happen!? We'd have to do it French revolution style and murder or exile someone.

I'd like to see it massively, massively streamlined at the very least. Give them one palace, take away the Duchy, make the vast majority of estates and properties publicly owned, stop funding them, etc.

The queen should be the last monarch.

YABU and extremely un patriotic.

The Monarchy is exactly what sets England apart from the rest of the world.

I for one would be devastated if the Monarchy was abolished. It's the common thread through our chequered history.

The Prince of Wales has already said that the Monarchy WILL be slimmed down and consist of Him, The Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and their children.

The Queen has been utterly wonderful in her role as head of state. Remember the turnout to her jubilee? Millions of people on the Thames it was spectacular no other country can do pomp and ceremony like us.

The monarchy costs each tax payer 56p what can you buy for 56p? I think people need to get a grip.

If we had a president they would cost us more have you seen how much the president of the United States costs the tax payer? $1.4billion. The Obamas going on Christmas vacation costs $4million. In comparison we get brilliant value for the Royal Family.

I think the Queen should be the last monarch too. Her death will be an extremely sad occasion and the end of an era.

*I only think it should be the end because Charles is crap (Although I like Camellia) and Wills and Kate are wet, lazy toffs.

YABU. I like Her Maj.

The civil list only ever paid the queen mum, the queen and the duke of Edinburgh. It was abolished two years ago. I think the royal family feels big because of the obsession with celebrities so they are followed in the popular press.

Boris Johnston could become president of the USA. Lucky them! Some complain about accidents of birth but look at presidents all over - in reality nearly all of them only stood a chance due to accidents of birth.

Not wanting the Royal family doesn't make you unpatriotic at all!

I swore I wouldn't get involved in this thread!

But 69% of the population were in favour of the monarchy in 2012, according to an ICM poll - so you're in the minority.

The thought of a country run entirely by politicians makes my blood run cold. I like the Royals- they bring humanity. I also think they pay for themselves when you consider tourism etc.

I never took part in that poll

The Monarchy is exactly what sets England apart from the rest of the world.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? Or do they not count?

Obama is both head of state and head of government, so the comparison doesn't quite work.

The thought of a country run entirely by politicians makes my blood run cold.

Gee, that's a lot of properly democratic countries - half of Europe - that you're writing off there. And at the royals 'bringing humanity'.

Unpatriotic???? What s sack of shit. I love the idea that in a so called democracy some moronic monarchists throw the unpatriotic label at those who want to move into the 21st century.

And please don't be naive enough to fall for the 56p a year argument - it's been proved to be utter rubbish. The real cost is much much higher.

The presidential system in Ireland is a fraction of the cost of our monarchy.

I like the Royals far more than I like the majority of politicians and I trust them to care more for this country and its citizens, rather than paying those who pay lip service to voters, while caring more about big corporations.

republican here.

i agree that with your comment that they would be more genuine caretakers of the country (certainly, i think the queen would do what's in the country's best interest), but that's precisely because she has no power and is apolitical. if she had more power, she would have to make decisions that piss some people off while making others happy (you can't please anyone) and at that point she/he would have to become political.

Also your DD cannot aspire to be head of state of the US, that great "democracy" if that were to be her dream. She was not born in the right place for that, either.

oh come now. that comparison is ridiculous. About 300 million people can become the president. About 10 can become head of state here.

The Monarchy is exactly what sets England apart from the rest of the world.

so many problems with this.

for one thing, other countries have monarchies too. For another, just because it sets us apart doesn't mean it is good. Apartheid set South Africa apart 30 years ago, but that doesn't justify apartheid. We are not questioning that the monarchy is part of tradition or history here (it plainly is) but whether or not it is good.

If we had a president they would cost us more have you seen how much the president of the United States costs the tax payer? $1.4billion. The Obamas going on Christmas vacation costs $4million. In comparison we get brilliant value for the Royal Family.

ridiculous comparison. Obama is head of the army, state AND government or a country 5 times bigger.