To think that PMs should answer questions about the royal family?

[Towardsthenorth]

Boris has been quoted as saying (in relation to whether public money was given to the prince Andrew case) that "No prime minister ever answers questions about the Royal Family and quite right too."

Why? Of course, a PM shouldn’t comment on something like the MM / PH controversy but when it’s public money being discussed AIBU to think they bloody well should comment?

YANBU.

We have the right to know what our taxes are being spent on, and if a single penny of it has gone on baling out that slimy sleazeball and possible sex criminal, I'll be bloody furious.

And I'm afraid to say that Johnson's refusal just to say that no public funds were spent on this makes me very suspicious. Surely if it wasn't, he'd just say so?

I think HM The Queen should answer the questions about:
a) Has she paid anything towards Andrew's buy-out of a sexual assault case?
b) Has she used money from the Duchy of Lancaster to do so?

I think the Prince of Wales should answer the same questions in relation to the Duchy of Cornwall.

These are not private monies- they are given to them in their roles and monarch and heir to the throne and will pass on to the next or back to the national coffers should the monarchy collapse.

HM The Queen is Head if the Church of England, Defender of the Faith , and takes that incredibly seriously. As such, I would think it incredibly inappropriate of her to pay off anyone's accusations of sexual assault.

If she wishes to do so as, Mummy to Andrew Windsor, she needs to flog a few bits and pieces from Balmoral or Sandringham- estates which she owns privately.

But @LuluBlakey1, Johnson was specifically asked.

“Separately, Mr Johnson refused to say in the BBC interview whether any public money will be used to fund the Prince Andrew financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre.”

Even if that is ‘no, no public money is used’ then say so.

I totally agree with you LuluBlakey1 people have the right to the answers to those questions.

The lack of transparency over how their various streams of funding are used is a disgrace.

PM’s should never comment on the RF and the equally the Queen should never comment on the PM/ Government.
If you start having a situation where the Queen routinely opines on Government policy or Government spending it would muck up our constitution somewhat as the Queen should not have influence over public policy ( which is ultimately democratically decided by the people in the ballot box)

He won’t even explain himself, never mind the royal family.

I presume Sophie Raworth meant would the Queen use any of the public money under her control to pay any of the Giuffre settlement. In which case I think Boris Johnson was correct. He was surprisingly strong at refusing to Sophie's insistence on party gate.

HM The Queen should answer the question and so should the Prince of Wales. They should not be hiding behind Johnson - who has no idea what the truth is in any situation. He lies and evades constantly.

I am not suggesting they are grilled on national tv. A simple written response would be acceptable.They should not above clarifying simple questions in this horrible situation.

Andrew should have every title and honour removed, including Prince, should not live in a building on the Royal Estates and should earn himself a living. He is very wealthy- has trust funds set up on his birth by the Queen Mother and the Queen, inherited money from the Queen Mother and , no doubt from Philip. He has sold two houses for millions - one which HM the Queen had built for him as a wedding present which he owed nothing in, sold for £15 million. The other is in the process of a sale for £17 million. Ms Ferguson could sell whatever it is she sells on to Americans to raise a bit of cash.
All we need to know are the answers to the questions in my first post.

The Queen has plenty of money that does not come from the public purse. What she does with her private money is up to her. If money from tax payers had been used (which i seriously doubt) then yes there would be a case to answer.

It is worth noting that the profits from the crown estates go to the state. The civil list monies are substantially less than the money received from the crown estates.

Andrew's behaviour is undoubtedly despicable

Lindsay Hoyle mentioned this a few weeks ago when Starmer brought up the Queen being in mourning alone whilst Boris partied. Said that it's against the rules to discuss the FR in the HOC. As soon as he said it I thought he's saying it before they start asking questions about PA and the ££££££

The Queen has income assets which is private, the money she gets from the taxpayers is subject to public scrutiny. She shouldn't need to answer questions about what she spends her personal wealth on

It's time the Royal Family was sent into oblivion.

They don't think we have the right to know anything.
They think they do not need to explain anything or apologise for anything. They have their hands in taxpayers pockets but tight seals on their own pockets.
They can seal their wills from public eyes, yet help themselves to our money for their funerals and weddings.

The Queen has income assets which is private, the money she gets from the taxpayers is subject to public scrutiny.

No it isn't. Who has sight of what it's spent on?

The Queen has plenty of money that does not come from the public purse. What she does with her private money is up to her. If money from tax payers had been used (which i seriously doubt) then yes there would be a case to answer.

How would we even know? There is no transparency or accountability around how public money is spent.

It is worth noting that the profits from the crown estates go to the state. The civil list monies are substantially less than the money received from the crown estates.

This would only be worth noting if you think she has any private claim on the Crown Estates. She doesn't. It's all state money.

The Queen has income assets which is private, the money she gets from the taxpayers is subject to public scrutiny. She shouldn't need to answer questions about what she spends her personal wealth on

Funny how she and her family are the only ones allowed such secrecy over their finances! I have to declare my income and savings to the tax authority and to any organisation I seek financial help from.

I can't for the life of me think why I have to use any of my taxes to keep multi millionaires in the luxury they feel entitled to. Can't see them sending me money should things get tough.

The Queen has income assets which is private, the money she gets from the taxpayers is subject to public scrutiny.

So all that needs to be said is that it is confirmed public money has not been spent on PA.

But no one will.

Funny that.

I think there are some questions about the RF he could legitimately have declined to answer. The question he was being asked was about use of public funds, though. He damn well should have given a straight answer to that.

Whatever Johnson says is likely to be untrue anyway