The thing is Republicanism won't actually solve the problem you mention, of the core group of powerful MPs being overwhelmingly representative of the elite. If anything it will swing things further under their control.
The monarchy aren't that rich or powerful at all by modern standards. The true wealth is in random parts of the aristocracy that owns massive parts of west London, but again merely turning into a republic is not going to result in that being redistributed any more palatably than it is today.
It is a dated institution, and it is a bit odd to have people born into such a thing, but it really isn't that actively harmful, and certainly less harmful than a headlong rush into a worse alternative when it appears to be slowly diminishing into irrelevance without the need of any external stimulus.
In the list of "things actively harmful to the UK", bad behaviour and lobbying by multinational companies and the financial services industry is fairly near the top, while all the Royals except Charles are smart enough to stay away from political issues most of the time.
An actual dispute about Royal Assent on a piece of popular legislation would end in favour of Parliament fairly quickly.
You know about the corporate lobbying. I don't think any of us have the slightest idea what influence the Royals have over the wonks, men in grey suits and senior members of the Government.
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The thing is Republicanism won't actually solve the problem you mention, of the core group of powerful MPs being overwhelmingly representative of the elite. If anything it will swing things further under their control.
The monarchy aren't that rich or powerful at all by modern standards. The true wealth is in random parts of the aristocracy that owns massive parts of west London, but again merely turning into a republic is not going to result in that being redistributed any more palatably than it is today.
It is a dated institution, and it is a bit odd to have people born into such a thing, but it really isn't that actively harmful, and certainly less harmful than a headlong rush into a worse alternative when it appears to be slowly diminishing into irrelevance without the need of any external stimulus.
"The monarchy aren't that rich or powerful at all by modern standards."
"it really isn't that actively harmful"
How can you be sure?
In the list of "things actively harmful to the UK", bad behaviour and lobbying by multinational companies and the financial services industry is fairly near the top, while all the Royals except Charles are smart enough to stay away from political issues most of the time.
An actual dispute about Royal Assent on a piece of popular legislation would end in favour of Parliament fairly quickly.
Depends on your perspective I guess.
You know about the corporate lobbying. I don't think any of us have the slightest idea what influence the Royals have over the wonks, men in grey suits and senior members of the Government.