Monthly Archives: July 2012

Labour MP quizzes Clegg on an elected Head of State

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Labour MP Paul Flynn has exposed the limits to Nick Clegg’s belief in democracy in a Parliamentary question about the Monarchy.

Despite arguing in the same session of Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions that the House of Lord needed democratic reform, Clegg said he did not support electing the Head of State

In light of the current debate over Lords reform, Flynn asked “Will the Deputy Prime Minister extend his commendable enthusiasm to trusting the people and extending democracy by giving our people a right that is enjoyed in almost every other free country in the world—that is, will he allow them to vote on whether Charles, William or A. N. Other should be our next head of state?”

At a time when there is intense scrutiny on Britain’s constitution, it is essential that the scope of the debate is broadened to include a discussion on a democratic alternative to the Monarchy.

The Deputy Prime Minister has recently stated in the Commons that the Lords must be reformed because it has “no democratic mandate – none at all – but exercises real power”, but it appears that he is unwilling to apply this principle to our Head of State.

Osborne has questions to answer over royal funding

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Labour for a Republic has written to the Chancellor, George Osborne, demanding answers over the recently published royal finances.

The figures show that taxpayer funding for the Queen has increased by £200,000 and the royal families transport costs have soared by £100,000.

Dear George Osborne MP,

The recently published royal finances raise a number of questions about the cost of the royal family to the taxpayer. The figures show that the Queen’s income from the taxpayer has risen by £200,000 in the last year to over £32 million and that the taxpayer subsidy for royals’ travel has risen by £100,000.

People across the country will be left wondering why, when the Government claims its aim is to reduce the deficit and states it must implement brutal cuts and vicious austerity measures in order to do so, the royal family continues to receive ever increasing payouts at the expense of the taxpayer.

These recent figures generate numerous questions which need to be answered:

1)   Why has the Government increased funding for the royals, one of the richest families in the country, while cutting from the poorest and most vulnerable?

2)   Why, like other public sector employees, are the royals not subject to the Government’s public sector pay freeze?

3)   Earlier this year, Lord Freud said the Government’s benefit cap would mean “people can no longer claim over £100,000 a year to live in large houses in expensive areas of London. This is the right and fair thing to do”, do these comments suggest the Government plans to dramatically reduce funding for the Queen and her extended family?

4)   Why did Prince Charles’ trip to poverty-stricken areas of London cost ten times more than the £2,000 it costs for the Prime Minister to visit Afghanistan?

5)   Why did Prince Charles’ trip by train to Middlesborough, Teesside, Redcar and Burnley cost £38,016?

 

Labour for a Republic urges Labour MPs to ensure that these questions are put to the Chancellor in the House of Commons.

Queen’s income from the taxpayer up £200,000 despite austerity

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Recently published figures show that taxpayer funding for the Queen increased by £200,000 in the last year to over £32 million.

While the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government is slashing benefits from the most vulnerable and imposing pay freezes on low paid public sector workers, they have introduced new legislation to ensure that the Queen’s income increases year on year.

The Royal family also saw the taxpayer subsidy for their transport increase by £100,000, with Prince Charles claiming £20,000 to visit poverty-stricken areas of London. This figure, already obscene, becomes even more extraordinary when compared to the £2,000 it costs to send the Prime Minister on a trip to Afghanistan.

Another trip to Middlesborough, Teesside, Redcar and Burnley, which Charles made by train, set the taxpayer back £38,016. Meanwhile, Charles’ brother, Prince Andrew racked up a staggering £350,000 travel bill in 2011/12 – a figure that is almost 17 times the average income in the UK.

Despite the swingeing cuts to public services and welfare, the Royals are continuing to lead a lavish lifestyle and seem to have exercised no restraint in billing the taxpayer exorbitant amounts. It seems utterly bizarre that the Conservative-led Government are implementing austerity measures which hit the poorest hardest whilst the Queen and her extended family remain exempt from cuts.

Labour for Republic believes it is unacceptable for ordinary working people, already paying for a crisis they didn’t create, to have to pay for the luxurious lifestyle of one of the richest families in the country. It is telling that the Conservative-led Government looked first to cut from the poor, but did not consider reducing spending on the Royals.

It is completely wrong that taxpayers on low incomes should be expected to fund not only the Head of State but also her extended family and this is a matter which needs to be addressed urgently.