Royalty

no

Goes to things, opens things, wanders around waving.
It is, as everyone knows, a weird ceremonial role, which also seems to be extremely popular with a lot of people. There's no reason we can't keep the role, but also reduce the cost to the taxpayer and maximise the benefit to the economy.
I mean, ffs, we've got government so intent on fucking with the BBC - an entity that gives incredible value to pretty much everyone who lives in the country - and yet no one ever thinks to make the royalty better value.

That's a pithy reply, but I'd genuinely like to see evidence one way or the other.

Privatise the royal family! G4S for king!

Last night I started getting upset that my TV licence fee is helping to pay Nicholas Witchell's salary. Then I wondered... he's so up the royals' arses, maybe he does cringeworthy fauning for free?

Another reason JC for Labour leader might be a very interesting thing.

This is from some correspondence i received earlier in the year.

"I am equally concerned about Prince Charles and his overzealousness when it comes to political matters. This does not bode well for the future, when he might be King. I signed Early Day Motion 608, His Royal Highness Prince Charles’ Letters to Ministers, in protest.

The Guardian applied for access to letters sent by Prince Charles in 2004-5 and it is ridiculous that they have not yet been released. This Freedom of Information request has been met by the full-force of the government, who are eager for these letters not to be released.

It is the 21st Century and an unelected Head of State (albeit to-be Head of State) should not be exerting influence over the democratic process. The role of members of the Royal Family, unless they wish to abdicate, should be – solely – ceremonial.

Unfortunately, I do not think public opinion is in favour of abolishing the Royal Family and Britain becoming a fully-fledged republic, so at present it is important to fight for reform and fairness when it comes to this institution. I will always be active in issues when there has been an abuse of power and of course against undemocratic institutions in our society.

Yours sincerely

Jeremy Corbyn MP
Islington North"

To attribute tourism to the monarchy is extraordinarily insulting. While tourists might pop and see things associated with the monarchy (and if the monarchy was abolished they still could and would have access to Buck House as well) they also come for so many other things that London, and indeed England, has to offer.

Of course they do, but is there a proportion of those who choose London over other destinations because we have a monarchy? It's quite possible - on the other hand it might be statistically insignificant. Either way, I'd be interested in knowing. I'm not quite sure it's extraordinarily insulting to wonder about it - but hey, this is the internet. Let's get outraged.

We could sell tickets to the annual beheading of a royal, that'd drive up direct tourist revenue.

Surely impossible to say.

I read somewhere that some positive net figures you might find online include the value of the Royal Warrant to British multinationals, inflating figures far beyond one based solely on tourism (which I am quite sure would be negligible). This seems like a bit of a fudge seeing as we all know corporations pay fuck all in taxes.

In any case it is just completely obscene and unjust that taxpayers are paying as much as £200m p/a to fund the lavish lifestyle of a private family. They should be deposed immediately.

Then change the quotidianity of the middle class with a skizzodeous one and anger and hunger will do the job.

Yep, that's fair enough.
It is a bit daft that we have an official policy of austerity, and yet the head of state and family receive insane money, and our political leaders cream off hundreds of thousands p.a. in expenses.

I think that the chat about whether they are value for money slightly misses the point. Hereditary monarchy is an anathema to an ideal of a meritocratic democracy, and its links to a theocracy are so antiquated and laughable as to be insulting.

I care not for a positive business case for the royals in the same way that I do not look for a net present value for paedophilia or racism.

Who cares if she costs the country money or not? She costs me money and I detest the existence of her role.

She also costs the country money.

And has a stupid face.

Yes please

Desperately biting my tongue listening to all the posh girls in the office discussing how wonderful the queen is and hasn't she done a splendid job for the country .. And in the same breath complaining that the Qataris have bought Harvey Nicks and will be converting it into posh flats or something - how are they allowed to own so much stuff?

The irony is almost too much to deal with. I may explode shortly.

A good argument for sure. Problem is (and this is a few years old, can't find current figures), the queen has almost 70% of the country giving her a good approval: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/may/24/queen-diamond-jubilee-record-support
So whilst the moral and financial argument for abolishing the monarchy might be sound, most of the country's kinda happy with the status quo. Might be as much to do with the right wing media as anything, or people's attachment to tradition, or any number of reasons. When Charles takes over, the picture may change.

Agreed completely - it's just wrong.

It must also have an impact on the national psyche for everybody to know that it is completely impossible to ever earn the right to be head of state.

Never forget: people are stupid.

I think if you asked those 70%, probably only 65% have any idea how much she actually costs, or how rich she is.

So...having the monarchy is anti-democratic but the 70% democratic support for the monarchy is also wrong because the people are stupid. Hmmm.

Well no doubt, but again it's quite a big argument to make to the populace if, for example, you're hoping Corbyn might attempt it were he to get in power. If he did try, his premiership would encounter far more opposition - and we're hoping he's going to do genuinely useful things like end austerity, renationalise services, and generally put a cap on corporate excess.

We've never had a referendum on retaining the monarchy.

Opinion polls don't count.

Do it Dan. Bite their heads off!

game set and match, republican scum!