Practical republican politics

[Silas Loom]

How could we get rid?

What are the achievable steps along the way: ending weekly prime ministerial oversight, taking crown holdings into direct Treasury control, slashing the budget for state occasions?

Are there more formal steps that we could take towards demanding legitimacy: perhaps a legitimising referendum before permitting coronation, and then requiring confirmatory votes every ten or five year terms for the successor, eventually allowing alternative candidates onto the ballot paper?

Is there any chance of Labour adopting republican policies, or is it more likely to find favour with insurgents, perhaps even from the populist right?

And, to be fair to Urban’s empathetic monarchists who bristle at Ekaterinburg approaches and take simple pleasure in royal gossip, is it really that important an issue?

 

[danny la rouge]

How could we get rid?

They seem to be doing a good job of collapsing the institution all by themselves.

 

[moochedit]

Is there any chance of Labour adopting republican policies,

Can't see starmer going for that one

 

[danny la rouge]

And let’s head this one off at the pass:

“But we’d have President Boris!”

1. Well, we had prime minister Boris, so are you arguing against all elections?

2. It’s not actually a job, so we don’t need to replace it with anything.

 

[DotCommunist]

I think they'd go to the mattresses before they obeyed any democratic commands to step down.

 

[Silas Loom]

They seem to be doing a good job of collapsing the institution all by themselves.

Even if their ineptness is sufficient, which hasn’t been the case historically, not even when Victoria went full hermit, the instinct for change would still need to be pegged to some practical and politically achievable objectives.

 

[Silas Loom]

I think they'd go to the matresses before they obeyed any democratic commands to step down.

That would be the best possible outcome.

 

[moochedit]

And let’s head this one off at the pass:

“But we’d have President Boris!”

1. Well, we had prime minister Boris, so are you arguing against all elections?

2. It’s not actually a job, so we don’t need to replace it with anything.

"Oh but it's good for tourism"
Cos nobody ever visits france do they

 

[DaveCinzano]

And, to be fair to Urban’s empathetic monarchists who bristle at Ekaterinburg approaches

Name these quislings now

 

[planetgeli]

the instinct for change would still need to be pegged

You've outed yourself here William.

What have you done with Kathy?

 

[Crispy]

I would welcome the removal of the royal family, but I would dread with a sinking hole in my stomach the process of writing a constitution to replace it.

 

[Silas Loom]

Can't see starmer going for that one

Not this term, and not without opinion polls that made the position politically safe, and not without adopting some of the middle ground positions that I suggest above as potential footsteps towards abolition.

But imagine if Starmer had to have weekly meetings with the rather unimpressive William. Not sure there is any constitutional barrier to sacking them off, or suggesting a monthly cadence instead.

 

[moochedit]

Name these quislings now

 

[The39thStep]

Can't see starmer going for that one

Once that predicted back bench revolt takes place anything is possible.

 

[Silas Loom]

I would welcome the removal of the royal family, but I would dread with a sinking hole in my stomach the process of writing a constitution to replace it.

If progress towards republicanism happened over a hundred years or so, then other constitutional mechanisms would over time absorb functions and rights associated with royalty, and eventually, if it was done right, there would be no need to dispense with the tradition of unwritten constitutions when the last monarch faced the chop.

 

[brogdale]

How could we get rid?

The Nepalese solution; ensure they have access to automatic weapons and plenty of booze.

 

[Silas Loom]

The Nepalese solution; ensure they have access to automatic weapons and plenty of booze.

Don’t they hole up on a shooting estate every Christmas? We could be waiting for rather a long time.

 

[Serge Forward]

And let’s head this one off at the pass:

“But we’d have President Boris!”

Not that it's really my politics, speaking as a staunch anarcho-communist, but there's always more positive examples such as Ireland's Michael D. Higgins. As it's supposedly a largely ceremonial gig, I see no reason why they couldn't have 'national treasures' on a fixed term basis, such as Charlotte Church, Judi Dench, Mo Farrah or Count Binface. Alternatively, the job could be the winning prize in a national raffle.

 

[brogdale]

Don’t they hole up on a shooting estate every Christmas? We could be waiting for rather a long time.

Just give piss-head Steve the AR 15 instead of the Purdy.

 

[Silas Loom]

Not that it's really my politics, speaking as a staunch anarcho-communist, but there's always more positive examples such as Ireland's Michael D. Higgins. As it's supposedly a largely ceremonial gig, I see no reason why they couldn't have 'national treasures' on a fixed term basis, such as Charlotte Church, Judi Dench, Mo Farrah or Count Binface. Alternatively, the job could be the winning prize in a national raffle.

The really key constitutional functions that are revealed when PMs behave badly (Johnson provides almost all the modern examples) need to go somewhere else first, as does practical diplomacy with other heads of state, but that looks like the best call for ceremonial functions from remembrance Sunday to opening shopping centres.

 

[A380]

We could put the Royal Family up for auction as an institution. Both the Americans and the French seem rather keen. The House of Windsor is a bit like the English Premier league in that it has become de facto the world royal family of choice* and buggers up the English National Squad/UK politics.


*Even though there are probably 'better ones' like South American football and the Japanese (ceremonial) and Dutch (coolness) royal families.

 

[brogdale]

We could put the Royal Family up for auction as an institution. Both the Americans and the French seem rather keen. The House of Windsor is a bit like the English Premier league in that it has become de facto the world royal family of choice* and buggers up the English National Squad/UK politics.


*Even though there are probably 'better ones' like South American football and the Japanese (ceremonial) and Dutch (coolness) royal families.

Privatised to be owned by a rolling succession of asset management corporations extracting 'value' for their shareholders; that would appeal to some vermin factions.

 

[MickiQ]

I would imagine the UK will eventually go down the same route as much of the rest of Europe with an elected but largely ceremonial figurehead president but power continuing to rest with the House of Commons and the PM. I'm fairly confident that the House of Lords will go long before the Royals do. Sadly though I think if there was a referendum tomorrow to abolish them it would probably fail and we would be stuck with them a lot longer.

 

[Pickman's model]

It would be good if republicanism in this country had one iota of the dedication to socialism and equality you find in irish republicanism. I wouldn't trust the liberals of republic one inch

 

[PTK]

And let’s head this one off at the pass:

“But we’d have President Boris!”

1. Well, we had prime minister Boris, so are you arguing against all elections?

2. It’s not actually a job, so we don’t need to replace it with anything.

That comment comes because people do not know the difference between an exective president and a ceremonial president.

 

[A380]

In order to replace the constitutional bit how about PM oversight by a beefed up but reduced in size Privy Council. Say 30 people. Appointed by an independent commission. 10 Members ex PMs or Chancellors Home or Foreign Secretaries . 10 people who have delivered in Public life. Trade Union leaders, Civil Service Permanent Secretaries, heads of Charities, chief of defence staff, Members of supreme court etc. 10 'normal' people drawn from people who have really delivered for their community in some way (perhaps replace the MBE and OBE with something meaningful and draw from recipients?)

Then for ceremonial head of state stuff a 5 year fixed term only open to people who have never been involved in politics. Public vote so likley to get National Treasures. Valerie Singleton would be a good first choice.

 

[Silas Loom]

In order to replace the constitutional bit how about PM oversight by a beefed up but reduced in size Privy Council. Say 30 people. Appointed by an independent commission. 10 Members ex PMs or Chancellors Home or Foreign Secretaries . 10 people who have delivered in Public life. Trade Union leaders, Civil Service Permanent Secretaries, heads of Charities, heads of, chief of defence staff, Members of court of appeal etc. 10 'normal' people drawn from people who have really delivered for their community in some way (perhaps replace the MBE and OBE with something meaningful and draw from recipients?)

Then for ceremonial head of state stuff a 5 year fixed term only open to people who have neve been involved in politics. Public vote so likley to get National Treasures. Vallary Singleton would be a good first choice.

I think you might have solved the question of how to replace hereditary and politically-appointed peers with that one, too.

 

[A380]

It would be good if republicanism in this country had one iota of the dedication to socialism and equality you find in irish republicanism. I wouldn't trust the liberals of republic one inch

Like de Valera you mean. Never saw you as a fan of Dev. Still we live and learn.

 

[Pickman's model]

Like de Valera you mean. Never saw you as a fan of Dev. Still we live and learn

You would do if you knew anything about irish republicanism. What contribution do you think dev made that's still relevant today in comparison to eg James connolly, Wolfe tone, ta power etc?

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Why don't we replace our unwritten constitution with a new unwritten constitution?