November 29th – Graham Smith (Republic) “Corruption of the state: The power and secrecy of the monarchy, and the democratic alternative”

The persistent myth is that the British monarchy is a harmless, powerless constitutional decoration from a bygone age, an institution that brings in the big tourism dollars and unites the nation with weddings, anniversaries and royal babies.

The reality is that the monarchy is a central pillar of Britain’s political system, granting power to our politicians through the Privy Council and to the Windsor family through state secrecy, privileged access and a personal royal veto.  It is an institution that serves the interests of the political class while protecting the interests of one family.

There is no pay-back for the British people: the tourism dollars are a fiction dreamt up by royalists who cannot defend the monarchy on any credible terms.  The monarchy is far from harmless or powerless, but the good news is that there is a sound, democratic alternative that is ours for the taking.

 

Graham Smith is a leading republican and Chief executive officer of Republic, the campaign for a democratic alternative to the monarchy.  Graham has led the organisation for eight years, taking Republic through a period of huge growth during the royal wedding, jubilee and the media’s baby hysteria.  Graham has appeared on BBC News, Breakfast, the Today programme and numerous other national, international and local media outlets.  Recently Republic has led the way in challenging Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall over its avoidance of corporation tax, resulting in a House of Commons inquiry.