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Some harsh realities on the Monarchy from Prof John Curtice – politicalbetting.com
Some harsh realities on the Monarchy from Prof John Curtice – politicalbetting.com
The leading political scientist and polling expert, Prof John Curtice, has a great piece behind a PayWall in the New Statesman on how the public now views the monarchy.
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It's George III and the Prince Regent over again.
A Yougov poll in the last few days has 64% wanting to keep the monarchy, with the monarchy miles ahead with Tories and LDs and even ahead amongst Labour voters and under 25s.
Another poll has 63% thinking Charles will make a good King
https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1569698859831508995?s=20&t=GHvXQt4xv4UVVPHygnUppw
https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1569607557727092736?s=20&t=GHvXQt4xv4UVVPHygnUppw
President Tony Blair with ceremonial powers.
Another King John or Edward IV or James II, recipes for disaster. for monarchy.
Very few are unambiguously monarchist regardless of the individual. I think the first time we get a complete tosser as monarch we’ll go republic.
Royal Families are profoundly un-British. Goes against the self-respect, love of freedom, the Cromwellian tradition, Nonconformism that made modern Britain. A supposed English patriot such as you would indubitably go back to the proper old tradition of the elected Kings of Anglo-Saxon times.
But the fawning wall to wall coverage has been really offputting. North Korean in scale.
It's a demonstration of how utterly wed to the anachronistic class system we are in the UK. Knowing our betters and knowing our place.
Moreover, the whole thing just feels like an enormous ad for the dirty money of the world's dictatorships. The last week has been one giant ad. All the pomp, all the pageantry, what it really says to the world is - "don't worry, though your government may be overthrown next month and your assets seized, the way we do things in the UK means continuity over hundreds and hundreds of hundreds of years - the elite will always remain the elite, and your money will always be safe here". Britain - the place where continuity of the establishment and deference to ones betters means your money will always be safe.
Almost everyone has some kind of complaint about the past few days (even if it is only ASDA being closed), when you talk to them. Even if the vast majority don't see the necessity for any kind of change right now.
Back from dinner with Mrs Stodge and saw a good number getting off the Jubilee Line tube at Bermondsey ready to brave a long and chilly night. I did the whole religious angle earlier so won't repeat it.
As I've said before, my view on the Monarchy echoes Churchill's on democracy. That said, the Monarchy can and must never take our "support" for granted. Their task is to remain relevant to a changing society (how very woke of me, I expect) and not become an anachronistic reminder of what was.
In addition, the "Firm" (like all other organisations) has to ensure it is run as efficiently and effectively as possible. That means looking at costs and looking at what the members of the Royal Family do in terms of duties, obligations and responsibilities. I have no doubt for example the likes of the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Wessex work tirelessly and don't always get the recognition they deserve for covering the vast range of Royal "events" which are often much less than the pomp and circumstance of current times;
There will be those who, not unreasonably, question some of the expansive property and land portfolio and ask whether all of it is really required and it may well be we'll see further reductions in the Estate going forward.
Not sure if it was there when you came but there is now an occasional use level crossing connecting Sheringham mainline to the heritage Poppy line station, part of the Norfolk Orbital Railway project.
Theres the Mid Norfolk Railway as part of that effort too (Dereham to Wymondham)
Theres also 2 narrow guages - Wroxham Aylsham (Bure Valley) and Wells Walsingham on the North Coast that are fun
The orbital would run the current Norwich to Sheringham then the Poppy Line to Holt, with track then needing to be rebuilt to connect through Fakenham back round to Dereham, then the existing mid Norfolk line to Wymondham where it rejoins mainline to Norwich. It coming off looks highly unlikely before 2150!
Yes, Herefordshire does not have an Ipswich or Felixtowe like Suffolk, nor an Exeter like Devon, or a St Austell or a Camborne or a horrible old mining shithole like places in Northumberland, nor the saunas of Plymouth
There is not one single horrible town in Herefordshire. Not one. It can be poor or run down but it is always picturesque, there is no industry, there are no high rise buildings, there is no real motorway - which is what Pevsner was driving at, and he is still right
Aesthetically it is closer to a lost but lovely part of France, like, say, Lozere
With the royals we have something that just about works and remains a decent source of soft power. But that depends on the monarch being a likeable, and reasonably neutral individual.
Just have to console ourselves with the 23 then.
The monarchy is supported 60/20 with 20 undecided
Is there any other major political institution in any country with that kind of support, however tepid? (And for many it is not tepid at all, see The Queue)
For the monarchy to be in trouble you’d need to see these figures reversed, and consistently, for years, because abolishing the monarchy would be such an appalling arse-ache for a start. So much hassle….. and for what? What replaces it? A tedious republic? A figurehead president Gordon Brown? David fucking Attenborough then who?
insane. Of all the things to worry about - like WORLD WAR 3 - British republicanism is not in the top 10,000
Advocates of a Republic need to be a bit more proactive than waiting for a monarch to self-destruct.
Nobody representing us atheists got an invite.
As one stands on Worcestershire Beacon looking North across the M5 towards the Vale of Evesham the flat vista is only interrupted by Bredon Hill. Turn around and one is met with undulating magnificence all the way to Hay Bluff.
Hereford, Leominster, Ledbury and Bromyard are tired. Ross is returning to its majestic splendour. Perhaps the rest will follow.
First though will be the Caribbean. Then Australia and NZ in due course. Canada probably sticks around until the end. But by then Britain will be a very different country anyway.
Fuck that. Fuck republicanism
A lot of land and property is owned by the Crown Estates for example and there may be those who ask whether that property is being properly and effectively used or whether there may be an argument for rationalising the portfolio and returning some of the land and buildings to public ownership and use?
As for a republic, begs plenty of questions over Presidential power, method of election, length of term, limits of terms, primacy of Parliament v Presidency.
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Hereford, Leominster, Ledbury and Bromyard are tired. Ross is returning to its majestic splendour. Perhaps the rest will follow.”
The Lozère comparison is apt. Or somewhere a big greener and less stark, like Corrèze. It is the Limousin of England.
I disagree that Hereford or Ledbury are tired (not been to the others recently). Hereford in particular has perked up no end since the 1990s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
Of the top 20 on that list, 14 out of 20 are monarchies
Even if you strip away the micro states and colonies, 13 of the top 20 are monarchies
The republics cluster lower down
https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/11/20/third-of-kiwis-want-nz-republic-47-favour-keeping-monarchy/
However you are right that this prospect is so distant the question is not worth asking
And that applies anywhere in the West
I really would, by the way. There are few things that could bestir me to arms, that is one of them. Another is invasion of the UK. Also anyone seriously endangering my children OBVS
After that it gets hazy. I agree with NATO defending NATO but I would not personally collect a musket to hold off the Russians outside Riga
I disagree that Hereford or Ledbury are tired (not been to the others recently). Hereford in particular has perked up no end since the 1990s.
Looking North from the Beacon? I'm not sure on that one? East perhaps?
Twat.
I disagree that Hereford or Ledbury are tired (not been to the others recently). Hereford in particular has perked up no end since the 1990s.
Looking North from the Beacon? I'm not sure on that one? East perhaps?
We laugh at other countries for their cult of personality and yet eagerly lap it up here. The monarchy works best when it works quietly in the background - part of the nation's soft power. Bringing it front and centre in this way just makes us look like a third world dictatorship.
The figure of £8m quoted here for the funeral is ridiculous. The security alone will surely cost many times that. (Donald Trump's four-day visit in 2018 cost British police forces £14m.) The bank holiday on Monday will cost somewhere in the region of £1bn.
https://www.consultancy.uk/news/31174/research-government-overestimates-the-cost-of-bank-holidays
The Big Four accounting firms estimated in May that a bank holiday cost about £0.8bn, with the government model saying £1.4bn.
Looking North from the Beacon? I'm not sure on that one? East perhaps?
https://reduxx.info/ontario-high-school-teacher-seen-wearing-massive-prosthetic-bust-to-teach/
Canada, naturally.
I just got stopped on my way into my v pleasant Seville apartment by the woman who manages it. I thought I’d done something wrong, let burglars in through the roof terrace or something, but no, she stopped me because she wanted to earnestly express her condolences on the death of Ze Queen, Your Queen, i am Zo Zorry
She really meant it. She looked personally sad. Much sadder than me
Can you imagine doing that to any foreigner on the death of any foreign personage? Americans for JFK perhaps, but after that, nope
That is soft power. Foreigners do not look at Britain and see North Korea, FFS, they see an ancient foreign institution which has somehow emotionally engaged them. We mess with this magical mixture, which projects a fine British brand of stability and pageantry, at our peril
East, or North East would be more appropriate.
Widemarsh Street and the shopping centre where the cattle market used to be are OK. High Town going towards Commercial Street is very tired.
Ledbury is very sad at present. The Southend and the Homend look, shall we say, vacant. And whoever allowed the huge modern glass doorway on the Barrett Browning Institute (the Library) wants shooting.
Ross on the other hand is buzzing!
So the mental test is to find an age-equivalent to each generation of the Royals that would make an acceptable alternative.
For QE2, the obvious alt is David Attenborough: widely respected, has excelled in many fields, apolitical but passionate.
for KC3, I'd suggest Joanna Lumley: bit of a national treasure, has espoused causes dear to both sides of the political divide, eloquent and forthright.
It gets more difficult now, because younger generations haven't had a chance to prove themselves (this is where monarchy has an advantage, because they don't have to prove themselves, just be)
So for the PoW, perhaps a little levity?
Ben Whishaw. The quintessentially British Q in the Bond franchise, plus - and what could be more timely? - the voice of Paddington. 'Thank you, m'am'. Also of course the first (openly) LGBT+ head of state. A bit cryptic on political views, but understandably so.
After that, who knows? Widen it to the Commonwealth, and go for Malala Yousafzai? But by the time someone from that generation is needed, hopefully someone will have made themselves known.
An interesting thought experiment, I hope.
Also, the Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia are on my list. See them with the guided tour or solo with guidebook?
What was it Lennon said? You think you're so clever and classless and free...