Abolishing the Monarcy.

[Helendee]

Good or bad idea and reasons for your opinion?
I don’t feel strongly either way but I am curious about what aspects of becoming a Republic are more beneficial than the UK’s stable current system.

Get rid

They don’t cost money. They are net contributors to the U.K. Treasury

Can you provide figures from a provably neutral source to substantiate this, please.

William and Kate are very likeable. He will grow into the role in time

Hmmm. Endless snuggle time to settle in as a couple, skipping a Commonwealth Service in favour of a lad's trip, taking an RAF helicopter for date night, sniggery little jokes about covid, prickly with the press, smug, preachy and very definitely too pleased with himself. Yes. I can see how he comes across as likeable.

Plus he's pushing forty. How much time does he need?

Can we nationalise "their" assets as well please?

I haven’t seen much outrage

People are looking inward at the moment. It's shit for everyone and that's what consumes them. Once the immediacy has passed and the official enquiries start it'll be different.

Ah, yeah- and here we have Meghan the feminist vegan who’d never compromise her strong opinions for money.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=pFKleWOhehs

BUT they are a net benefit for us.

I keep seeing this but nobody is coming up with the hard stats proving it despite endless asking

The Scandinavian monarchies are not as pared down as people think. The Danes have some pretty solid palaces, glittering jewels, titles for the extended family and a jetset lifestyle.

Once the immediacy has passed and the official enquiries start it'll be different

Or perhaps when the bills come in and taxes go through the roof.

@VinylDetective

Once the immediacy has passed and the official enquiries start it'll be different

Or perhaps when the bills come in and taxes go through the roof.

That too...

I used to be really anti royal when younger but recently have seen their value as a diplomatic tool. I think its a really useful stealth way to keep communication and relationships with counties open which the government of the time could not condone

I was the opposite, i see them now for the parasites they are.

As for diplomacy? you mean helping to sell arms to awful dictatorships.
They would never in a million years be in contact with regimes the British Govt wouldn't have diplomatic ties with.

Net benefit= soft power (@LemonSwan put it better than me)
Brand Britain is very strong right now, we can’t ignore the role the monarchy has had in this. We get billions in revenue to UK Plc because of them.
So as a company that exports, I see their benefit.
BUT I don’t agree with the people 20th in line to throne living of us. They need to slim it down.
I was also in the armed forces so see their value there. Again, not loads of them!
Happy to support a dedicated few who help us.

I was the opposite too and upthread I explained why I'd changed my mind.

I know abolishing them won't happen but a gradual streamlining and fade out would be preferable

@VinylDetective

Equally if people are happy to piss £22 billion away on something that failed to a mate of the PM, they're unlikely to balk at a fraction of that amount spent on the monarchy.

I don't think people are happy about this at all. It's outrageous, what can we do about it?

What can we do about it? Nothing, the money’s probably in Switzerland or the Cayman Islands now, never to be seen again.

@VinylDetective

What can we do about it? Nothing, the money’s probably in Switzerland or the Cayman Islands now, never to be seen again.

It's terrible. It's in plain sight. I didn't vote for them. Matt Hancock has been found to have acted unlawfully in awarding those contracts, but will we get any of the money back? It just disappears doesn't it.

I don’t think the system protected or promoted (Andrew). The allegations only emerged relatively recently and he still hasn’t been charged with anything

Eh??? This might work with the Epstein thing - and of course it's eclipsed much else - but some of us have good memories so what about the rest of it?

The questions over links with Gaddafi, arms sales and Libyan gun smugglers
His disastrous record as "Special Trade Representative" (See Chris Bryant et al)
The issues around financial "help" from numerous dubious acquaintances
His fascination with, and many visits to, the corrupt Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan
Reported backhanders arising from his involvement in Kazakhstan
The insensate extravagance resulting in his "Airmiles Andy" tag
Use of filthy racist language as related by Rohan Silva
Even his pettish vandalism of the Windsor estate gates, which is anyone else may well have led to a charge of criminal damage

Not protected by the system? Give me a break ...

And can I add to that...
his really dodgy deal selling Sunninghill (or whatever it was called) to some some ME guy for an inflated price (it had fallen into complete rack and ruin)
And his patronages... oh yes. Most Golf clubs attached to anything military or anywhere in the world. He loved golf our Andrew. It meant he could fly anywhere in the world on a freebie to play golf as the UK 'Trade Envoy'
His £15M chalet in Verbier, Switzerland, now on the market for £18M. Where the hell did that money come from?

I could go on

Brand Britain is very strong right now, we can’t ignore the role the monarchy has had in this

What! we are in a pandemic, why on earth is any countries "brand" strong right now? what does it even mean.
How on earth has the RF contributed in anyway to your belief we are a strong "brand" now?

We get billions in revenue to UK Plc because of them

Can you provide any evidence of this?

Brand Britain is very strong right now,

Nothing could be further from the truth right now for very many reasons

You're right, Roussette; I mentally included the payment for Sunninghill in the comment about financial help from the dubious, but had forgotten the Swiss chalet and the endless golf which just happened to coincide with "official" visits

In fairness there's so much that it's all too easy to forget, but never mind - at least he's "not protected by the system"

In 1992, The Queen volunteered to pay income tax and capital gains tax, and since 1993 her personal income has been taxable as for any other taxpayer

Makes you laugh - the Queen volunteered!
She was forced - and only since 1992.

Do any of you volunteer to pay tax, or have you always had to pay tax or face criminal charges.

We all need to wake up - a billionaire 'volunteering' to pay tax. Think how much tax in her life she has never paid, and then think of her spendthrift mother who left huge debts.

I quite fancy stopping my volunteering to pay tax actually.

Brand Britain is very strong right now

You should tell that to the EU countries. Our brand has never been stronger!

we can’t ignore the role the monarchy has had in this. We get billions in revenue to UK Plc because of them.

Once more, and other posters have asked this again, SHOW YOUR WORKINGS.

You people have really drunk the kool aid, haven’t you? Do you never question what you are told, or wonder about the agenda of whoever is telling you this stuff?

I was also in the armed forces so see their value there.

Do enlighten us on how. Do you think a 20 year old squaddie from Doncaster would stick with the army for ten years because Prince William drops in every five years?

Happy to support a dedicated few who help us.

You do know that they despise you, right? How are they helping you?

We don't even get to stop volunteering paying for the work shy bunch.

The Queen actually has the audacity to lecture us all on 'community', 'duty to others' 'responsibility' etc - yet had to be forced to pay into the community coffers. Just like she had to be forced to pay for the repairs to Windsor Castle! If I got to live in it I'd chuck in my share, but I don't!

Brand Britain is very strong right now

You think?