Royal Mint, National Debt by Norman Baker

[BoxingHare]

This book was published in November, a follow up from his book And What Do You Do. It does a deeper dive into the finances of the Royal family.

I've asked my library if they could stock it, and am interested in any one else's opinions if you've read it or are reading it.

Royal Mint, National Debt - The Guardian Bookshop https://share.google/zf83FwYnxHJRYQ619

Thanks OP, I have just purchased this and will hopefully make a good start on it tomorrow.

I'd really recommend the book to anyone who wants to know what's actually happening... there's many things which are under-reported in the news (I wonder why?).

One thing I've learned....
I had no idea that apart from the king's consent (what was Queen's consent that QE2 repeatedly took advantage of) there is also a Prince's consent. William has the power to block or change proposed laws and Norman Baker argues that this is very wrong as he is not Sovereign.
Also the Government has no idea whether a proposed law has been meddled with and changed before they vote on it. Changes are all done in secret behind closed doors. Or there are a few that are ditched altogether and no one is any the wiser. Baker only knows about this because of his position on the privy council

So much for the Monarch being apolitical

I knew about King's/ Queen's/Prince's consent and have had discussion here about it with those who try to present it as a harmless anachronism 🙄

I knew the grifters lobbied about it but it didn't really click that they were/are getting to see proposed legislation and change it before our elected representatives are even aware some proposals exist.

No wonder we're not allowed to know about the top secret work that fills their time and is carried out behind closed doors.

I'm currently reading the chapter on the Duchies.

Page after page detailing how they are screwing every last penny they can out of the public pot 😡

I thought the legislation aspect was legislation that was already going through parliament and that everyone knew the monarch had had changes made.

I feel like I ought to be gobsmacked at what they're actually doing, but it just seems par for the course.

I'm hoping the young people of today don't grow into the monarchy, and we eventually get rid of them.

Baker and Lownie are doing some extremely heavy lifting with exposing this odious family, the ultimate grifters.

I thought the legislation aspect was legislation that was already going through parliament and that everyone knew the monarch had had changes made.

I will read again to make sure I am correct, I was a bit tired and might have missed this

Thanks for this thread, OP. I have a lot of time for Norman Baker, seems eminently sensible and decent. shame he left elected politics. These books are now on my wish list, though, as other PPs have stated, I'm not sure how my blood pressure will fare.

Any PR from the Windsors - just assume the opposite is true , you wont go far wrong.

I knew about the monarch sticking their nose in to parliamentary processes to feather their own nest but didn’t know about ‘prince’s consent’ because Charles’ spider letters to ministers were presented as an aberration when they were revealed .

Look at who the Windsors hang out with - Middle Eastern monarchies .
We don’t see them with the ‘bicycling’ monarchies .

We endure and tolerate a monarchy which clings to and utilises medieval ‘rights’ . I’m afraid posters who say they support ‘a constitutional monarchy’ are fooling themselves . We do not have that .
If you think along those lines re justifying the Windsors , it is wishful thinking, not reality .

Read Norman baker’s books and help improve life in the UK

Oh no, I'm not saying you're mistaken, just that I'd thought that whilst the monarch did get to view legislation and make adjustments if it affected them, I didn't realise that it was wholesale scrutiny and many times prior to most MPs even knowing it existed!

I knew about the monarch sticking their nose in to parliamentary processes to feather their own nest but didn’t know about ‘prince’s consent’ because Charles’ spider letters to ministers were presented as an aberration when they were revealed .

They were, weren't they. And I remember there was something of an outcry from the public about them. But nothing said at the time about them being standard practice.

In the book, how does Baker know that this is continuing with William?

Norman Baker is an obsessive anti royalist who was an absolutely hopeless MP.
He doesn’t take an objective look and criticise accordingly but starts from his fixed position and then justifies it.

Perhaps this has already been posted - apologies if so- but apparently Charles interfered in the wording of leasehold laws at least 4 times when prince of Wales . All to better his own financial position .

He made sure one village in particular was excluded from the revised law - bettering his position and leaving the villagers at a disadvantage!
Unbelievable.
Yet we have the idea that the Windsors are above it constantly pushed on us. All lies .

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/28/prince-charles-pressured-ministers-change-law-queen-consent#:~:text=The%20Windsor%20family%20has%20used,preserving%20their%20%E2%80%9Cspecial%20character%E2%80%9D.

He’s presenting facts, not just opinions. It’s refreshing to read the views of someone who is not obsequious.

I don't think an 'absolutely hopeless' MP would end up on the Privy Council

Maybe read the books then come back and give a view.

Would you say Dennis Skinner was an obsessive anti royalist too then? Different viewpoints allowed, including his, and he was well loved and gained a lot of respect whilst not being a Royalist.

I suspect I have an advantage over you in having met him. As for Denis Skinner I wouldn’t have a clue.

Lucky you. I would like to meet Norman Baker.
Yes you have an advantage there, I'm jealous

One other fact that made me roll my eyes...we are refurbishing Buckingham Palace at massive cost to the taxpayer, some £369 million I believe.

Does everyone know that all proceeds from the general public doing a BP tour goes into Charles's pocket?

Believe me when I say you have nothing to be jealous about.

I've heard him speak, I like him, and I admire him greatly for lifting the lid on royal finances and other matters.
Good for him.

I am just at the part in the book about royal properties and my eyes cannot roll further back in my head if they tried. The Royals have access to 33 properties. He is going to list them at the end of the book and I don't want to preempt that

My MP is an excellent MP. I'm not a supporter of his party. Some people say he's rubbish but I don't know why because, even though I'm not keen on a lot of his politics, he's really good at paying attention to constituents, and is good at standing up for "us" in parliament.

I'd be interested to know why Baker was useless as an MP as I know nothing about him other than his books.

You didn't miss it.

It appears to be absolutely the case that proposed legislation which might affect royal interests is referred to their office before MP's get a sniff of it.

And yes. Shameful that we are picking up a dubiously calculated bill for a building none of the family want to live in while they pocket the proceeds from allowing the paying public to see a few rooms in it.

Can I ask if you've read his books and if so where any inaccuracies may have occurred?

I love that book. I've got it on audibles and listened to it twice. It peaked me into republicanism.

Definitely going to get stuck into this next one. Thank you Norman Baker!

Damn it. Its £15 on Kindle

No Audible version out yet.

Honestly this has been the best thread I’ve ever been on. I haven’t read any of his books in much the same way I haven’t read any of Russell Brands. Of all the people I’d have thought would have a Mumsnet fanbase he would have been a long way down the list. He’s a perfectly pleasant, not very bright former MPwho has a bee in his bonnet, There is nothing more to see. I’m off now as I can’t stop laughing. If you aren’t convinced go to a book signing and have a chat with him.