To think the monarchy is regressive and should be abolished?

[Muezza]

The principle of the monarchy, that they are superior people because of the family they were born into/married into is completely regressive and embarrassing for us as a country.

All the hoopla around the jubilee is cringe worthy

You do know it used to be and they could legitimately claim all of it?

Only if they unwisely decide they want to take on the full expenses of running the country again.

I suspect Charles and definitely William have plans to do something about the different levels of expenses

Charles think 'slimming down' plays well with the plebs. The reality is it won't affect his own bloated lifestyle in the slightest. Likewise William in due course.

rather pity most of them for having very little choice about living a public life under scrutiny

And yet so few of them exercise that choice.

It would be better for those wanting a Republic if William and Charles don't make cuts though. If they manage to create a small working monarchy which cuts out the hangers on and grace and favour shenanigans, and concentrates on doing the positive charity work

Royal patronages have not been shown to influence charitable donations. Hardly surprising when 76% of charities with a royal patron don't see 'their' royal's boat darken their doors in a year.

I can't now find the post warbling about the queen paying taxes but I'd point out that she only reluctantly started paying tax 'voluntarily' some 30 years ago, has benefited from decade's worth of tax breaks and has as recently as within this past year managed to get her tax bill on grouse shooting in Scotland reduced to below the rates paid by local businesses.

That's before we take into account the secrecy surrounding royal wills and the fact monarch to monarch bequests remain free of IHT.

I support the monarchy but I have no problems with people taking different views within the law. It is one of the reasons our country is so good - that it is allowed.

But those saying if we got rid of the royal family we’d get a President Boris/Blair etc. Do you not realise we kind of already do have a President PM.

The Queen never challenges, she signs every bit of paper waved in front of her by Boris. He’s been caught lying to her and she will still wave through everything so what’s the point of her?

She showed zero leadership during Brexit (which threatened and still threatens to tear the country apart) and we barely heard a peep from her during the pandemic. What’s the point of a leader who’s basically just a figurehead giving the stamp of approval for the government of the day?

They are there because they are the descendants of the most powerful tyrants that ruled over and terrorised us in times past. They murdered and tortured, robbed and overcame all that stood in their way with little regard. All, and I mean all the wealth and land they own is stolen. The palaces and castles built on taxes wrested from every citizen however poor. The ancient estates bequeathed to their cronies still going today unchallenged. It is utterly ridiculous that they still have such obscene amounts of wealth and try to 'earn' it promoting charities and whatever else they do. I have nothing against any of them personally, I do think they are well past their sell by date and should be retired , pensioned off and their wealth returned to the nation.

You sound about 12. Grow up.

BJatemyhamster BJ signs off the ever-growing sov grant just like his weak-minded predecessors. Mutually beneficial and very opaque arrangement, not forgetting the creepy Privy Council weirdness.

As long as we're still run by the spineless on both sides of the HoC, the queen is quids in.

My problem with the monarchy is that they’ve done nothing to earn their positions, the people haven’t voted them into power and there’s no mechanism for their removal if they turn out to be unsuitable. I think we should be able to choose our head of state and I don’t think it should be a lifelong gig. So I would vote to become a republic.

But when half of voting is basically public relations, is voting the best option ?

People need to have a choice even if they choose the “wrong” option. You’re talking about removing freedom of choice so the people at the top can patronise us and take the power out of our hands. “We know best, we’ll just take charge now”. Personally I’d prefer to have my choice.

Do you have any statistics or research to confirm your perspectives ?

But even with a choice, if the deck is already stacked then is the choice, all but an illusion ?

Correction, I'm asking if voting would be the best option with regards to how the people are choosen, as then it opened the topic for debate.

Democracy does not really exist under the FPTP system. FPTP is not democratic. Same system applies in the US, go figure.

Voting is the best option we’ve got for selecting a head of state. It’s not perfect but it’s better than a hereditary monarchy where we have no choice at all.

Yes! I'm down with this. Vive la révolution!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post_voting

I completely disagree. We’ve completely fucked the country with our voting decisions for the last 12 years. I have no faith in the electorate.

Elective monarchy, seems an intriguing one ?

I think the problem lies more with the system than the voters. Why vote for an independent or lesser known/funded party if they cannot win a seat in a single seat constituency under FPTP? It is so undemocratic really and leads to voting for the "least worst" or "what's the point?", the candidate from any source other than Labour or Tory has little to no chance, so it's Yin and Yang forevermore.

Elected monarchy- is that not just a dictatorship? Worth a try I suppose- what’s the worse that can happen?

Agree. FTPT is far from perfect but it's more democratic than hereditary head of state where they're also unaccountable. Obviously electoral reform for general elections is not going to be a priority for the Conservative Party as the current system benefits them. A lab-lib coalition might be interested in electoral reform! We can only hope.

I also agree with you, Blossom, in part, in that I have little confidence in a good portion of the electorate.

Rambling away there^

FPTP certainly doesn’t help @CurlyCew. I’m not excusing the electorate for the last debacle though and you can’t blame the system for Brexit.

Brexit vote was a straight Yes/No so FPTP as you know didn't impact it.

Most of the pro Brexit voting public were led by donkeys though, I will agree, and will now shut up about Brexit so as not to derail.